ACBF partnered with the Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (ETTIM) Department of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 20 and 21 February 2024 to launch a critical initiative: equipping African ambassadors with the knowledge and skills to drive regional trade growth. The training is aligned with the African Union's vision. It empowers ambassadors to become champions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a trade agreement designed to transform Africa's economic landscape significantly.
Entitled “Promoting acceleration of the AfCFTA and realization of the African Trade and Economic Integration,” ambassadors gained insights into key policies and strategies for implementing the AfCFTA framework. “We're catalysts for development,” said ACBF Executive Secretary Mamadou Biteye. "By equipping African diplomats with the expertise they need, we can turn the AfCFTA dream into reality." The training covered trade facilitation measures, taxation schedules, and policies to unlock economic opportunities across the continent.
Promoting the Acceleration of the AfCFTA Implementation and the Realization of the African Trade Integration.
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), under the patronage of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in partnership with the department in charge of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) of the African Union is convening a training of African Ambassadors and diplomats accredited to the African Union aimed at enhancing their understanding of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and support its implementation effectively. ACBF’s engagement with African Ambassadors and diplomats accredited to the African Union provides an opportunity to foster collaboration among African countries and strengthen the coordination necessary for accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA, with the ultimate objective of realizing the African Economic Community envisaged under the Abuja Treaty. Their involvement can help build consensus and mobilize support for the necessary reforms and policy adjustments at national and regional levels. The training is expected to yield valuable recommendations and actions that can propel the AfCFTA forward, leading to increased intra-African trade, enhanced regional integration, economic growth, job creation, and improved livelihoods for the continent’s population. ACBF will deliver the training with the technical support of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the International Trade Centre, the Pan African Manufacturers Association, and the Africa Business Council. The training will be held at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the 20th and 21st of February 2024.
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