The African Union (AU) will launch three “flagship projects” at the next summit scheduled for next week in Addis Ababa.
According to Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairman of the AU Commission, they will be set in motion with the aim of accelerating the integration of Africa.
This is the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), the free movement of people and goods, and the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision on the creation of a free and unique market for air transport in Africa
Mr. Mahamat was speaking on Thursday, January 25 2018, at the opening of the 32th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU, which was held in the Ethiopian capital.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has estimated that the CFTA has the potential to increase intra-African trade by 53,2% by eliminating import duties or doubling it if non-tariff barriers were increased. also reduced.
“Making this continent a unique commercial area will provide tremendous opportunities for businesses, businesses and consumers across Africa, and will be an opportunity to support sustainable development in the least developed region of the world,” he said. during the meeting Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of UNECA.
In January 2012, the AU Heads of State decided to establish the CFTA around the year 2017.
The launch of the Single African Air Transport Market (MUTAA), which is also expected to be the 28 January, will create new opportunities to promote cross-border trade and investment in the manufacturing and services sectors, including tourism.
This initiative will lead to the creation of 300 000 jobs directly, and two million indirectly, said Amani Abu-Zeid, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, in a statement issued last Monday by the pan-African bloc.
It will also contribute significantly to the integration and socio-economic growth of the continent, he added.
Note that for the moment, 23 African countries on 55 have subscribed to MUTAA, and 44 have signed the Yamoussoukro Decision.
