Freetown, Sierra Leone | 10–13 June 2025
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 12 June 2025 (ECA) - The Ministry of Trade and Industry of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, is hosting a four-day Capacity Building Workshop aimed at strengthening the technical and institutional capacity of Sierra Leone’s National Implementation Committee (NIC), Ministry of Trade and Industry staff, and key private sector stakeholders. The focus is on enhancing their understanding of the AfCFTA agreement, protocols, annexes, and implementation processes.
Taking place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown from 10–13 June 2025, the workshop brings together policymakers, technical experts, and development partners to deepen understanding of the AfCFTA Agreement and improve coordination among institutions responsible for its implementation.
Representing the Minister of Trade and Industry, Chief Director Emmanuel Billy Konjoh delivered a statement on behalf of Honourable Alpha Ibrahim Sesay:
“The AfCFTA is not just a trade agreement; it is a strategic catalyst for economic diversification, industrialization, and sustainable development.”
“This workshop is a strategic platform to build capacity, strengthen coordination, and ensure our policies and institutions are AfCFTA-ready. Under the 'Big Five' agenda of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, trade is seen as a driver of national development—from food security to job creation.”
He also highlighted major ongoing reforms, including the review of Sierra Leone's National Trade Strategy, National Export Strategy, MSME frameworks, and trade facilitation infrastructure, as well as the successful WTO Trade Policy Review that reaffirmed Sierra Leone's commitment to open and rules-based trade.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Willie Shumba, Sr. Customs Expert at the AfCFTA Secretariat, stated:
“The AfCFTA is an ambitious trade agreement with a comprehensive scope that covers critical areas like investment protection and digital trade—vital for Africa’s economic development.”
He emphasized the agreement’s role in supporting industrialization through the creation of value chains, which are essential to creating jobs and alleviating poverty. He commended Sierra Leone’s efforts so far in working toward the smooth implementation of the AfCFTA.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Seraphine Wakana, UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, emphasized the AfCFTA’s transformative potential:
“The AfCFTA is more than a trade agreement. It is a strategic vehicle for Africa’s economic transformation, unlocking regional value chains and ensuring inclusive development. For Sierra Leone, building institutional readiness is critical to fully harnessing the benefits of this agreement.”
She also highlighted Sierra Leone’s strong commitment to regional integration, including the 2019 ratification of the AfCFTA, the 2021 development of a National Trade Strategy, and ongoing efforts—supported by ECA—to introduce a Step-by-Step Guide and Trade Information Portal.
The workshop is covering key thematic areas including Rules of Origin, Trade Facilitation, Digital Trade, Intellectual Property Rights, and Women and Youth in Trade. Technical sessions are being led by experts from the AfCFTA Secretariat and ECA’s African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), alongside national experts from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Sierra Leone Revenue Authority.
Participants are also exploring Sierra Leone’s AfCFTA Readiness Assessment Study and its National Trade Strategy as tools for economic development. The workshop includes discussions on the nexus between the Readiness Assessment, National Trade Strategy, and National Export Strategy, with a focus on policy coordination and monitoring. These efforts are contributing toward the development of a framework for the effective operationalization of the National AfCFTA Implementation Committee (NIC), as Sierra Leone prepares to begin trading under the AfCFTA.
This training is part of a larger initiative under the project titled "Boosting Intra-African Trade through Leveraging Digitalization for Effective and Inclusive AfCFTA Implementation", funded by the Government of Japan. The project, implemented by ECA, supports institutional and technical capacity development in selected African countries to ensure their effective participation in the AfCFTA.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org