African Trade Policy Centre

Prioritizing health and education in the first round of negotiations for services liberalization within the African Continental Free Trade Area

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant contraction in economic activity in Africa. In fact, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has projected that gross domestic product (GDP) growth will fall from 3.2 to 1.8 per cent in 2020,1 while the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that foreign direct investment will contract by between 25 and 40 per cent.2 Services sectors, which account for up to half of the continent’s GDP,3 have been hardest hit.

Study on Extending the Benefits of Free Trade to Informal Cross Border Traders in the ECOWAS Region reviewed by experts

Addis Ababa, 27 October 2020, ECA – The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has today hosted the fourth in a series of five virtual experts group review meetings on innovative new research on preferential trade arrangements in Africa. The project is in partnership with the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

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Access to finance poses the biggest challenge for African businesswomen

Addis Ababa, 27 October 2020, ECA –Inadequate finance and information are among the leading non-tariff barriers (NTBs) facing African businesswomen and may underminethe success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), according to an advocate for businesswomen on the continent.
Speaking today during a webinar on the Trade Easier platform, a mechanism for reporting, monitoring and eliminating NTBs under AfCFTA, the Executive Director of the Pan African Business Women’s Association (PABWA), Ms Yavi Madurai, said the problemof gender inequality, corruption, and lack of
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A high-level panel to promote the implementation of the AfCFTA in Niger

Niamey (Niger), October 27, 2020 – On the initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (SRO-WA), in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and the Promotion of the Private Sector and the Organisation of Industrial Professionals in Niger (OPIN), a high-level panel was organised Thursday, October 22, 2020 on the theme "Boost local production: promote the ‘Made in Niger’ label within the framework of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ”.

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AfCFTA-anchored Pharmaceutical Initiative Feasibility Study and Pooled Procurement Framework Validation Webinar

AfCFTA-anchored Pharmaceutical Initiative Feasibility Study and Pooled Procurement Framework Validation Webinar 

 

Session Name: Day 1 - AfCFTA-anchored Pharmaceutical Initiative Feasibility Study and Pooled Procurement Framework Validation Webinar

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AfCFTA will address Africa’s investment challenges, says ECA’s Karingi at AIM2020

Addis Ababa, October 22, 2020 (ECA) – The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a game changer for investment on the continent which in recent years has seen foreign direct investment continuing to weaken, Economic Commission of Africa’s (ECA) Regional Integration and Trade Division Director, Stephen Karingi, said Thursday. 

The ECA Director said this while presenting for discussion reports by the ECA on investment issues during the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM2020) Africa regional focused session advancing ideas for action on the AfCFTA.  

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Burkina Faso’s AfCFTA national strategy implementation meeting holds next week

Addis Ababa, 22 October, 2020 (ECA) – Government officials and experts in Burkina Faso are meeting next weekto develop the country’s strategy for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) ahead of its commencement next year.

The two-day meeting in Ouagadougou from 26 Oct. to 27 Oct. is being organized by the country’s trade and industry ministry in collaboration with international partners including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the International Trade Center and the African Union Commission.

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