Implementation of the African free trade area should be fast tracked

As Africa’s ministers of Trade met in Cairo between December 12 and 13, last  year, there was a lot to celebrate. Within nine months of its coming into being on March 21, 2018 in Kigali Rwanda, the African Continental Free Trade Area has been ratified by 13 countries. Only nine more countries are needed to reach the required 22. This will enable the second ratification instrument for the Agreement to come into force, and for the free trade area to be formally launched at the next African Union Summit next month. 

With this imminent entry into force, priority has now rightly shifted to fast tracking implementation of the agreement so that economic operators can actually utilise the expected trade and investment opportunities.