The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) , in partnership with the government of Togo, has started building implementation strategies for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Organised by ECA through its African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and its subregional offices for West and North Africa, with the financial support of Open Society Foundations, the workshop was held in Lomé, Togo.

Bringing together representatives of ministries in charge of trade, regional economic communities, the private sector, chambers of commerce, as well as technical and financial partners from both regions, they assessed progress made in AfCFTA implementation, shared experiences and best practices, challenges and priority actions to accelerate the continent’s trade integration.

They examined AfCFTA’s role in strengthening the continent’s economic resilience and reducing external dependency.

Director, ECA Subregional Office for West Africa, Ngone Diop, stressed that accelerating AfCFTA’s implementation must be viewed as part of Africa’s broad response strategy to an increasingly uncertain and fragmented global environment.

She noted that the integrated meeting is about taking AfCFTA implementation a step further by moving beyond the design of strategies toward implementation in practice.

“It is about creating a strategic platform for countries in both regions to come together, share experiences and identify practical solutions to the challenges hindering regional and continental trade and turning these challenges into opportunities,” he said.

Chief of Staff of the Minister of Economy and Strategic Intelligence, Togo, Mensah Koffi Vinyo, said West Africa must go beyond paying lip service to regional trade and integration, as AfCFTA constitutes a strategic response for strengthening the resilience of the continent.

The workshop strengthened the shared commitment of African countries and partners to transform AfCFTA’s promise into concrete results for economies, businesses and citizens across the continent.