The African Union Executive Council met this week to discuss matters of critical importance to the continent. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (#AfCFTA), education, budget issues, African candidacies to international bodies, AU institutional reforms and Agenda 2063 were at the heart of the discussions.
During his opening speech, Dr. Alfred Mutua, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya, stressed the importance of accelerating regional integration by exploiting the comparative advantages of each African country. He also emphasized the need to strengthen Africa’s voice in climate change negotiations and to secure a fair share of global trade and investment.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union, Mrs. Josefa Sacko, stressed the importance of this coordination meeting to assess the state of the African integration and coordinate policies to accelerate the continent’s integration process.
The presence of delegates from all AU Member States demonstrates their commitment to regional integration, peace, security and economic development in Africa. This meeting is a unique opportunity to share views and work together towards achieving the ambitious goals of Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
This meeting is of particular importance in a context where Africa is facing many economic and social challenges. Regional integration and the strengthening of intra-African trade are key elements for stimulating economic growth, reducing poverty, creating jobs and improving the living conditions of African populations.
In conclusion, the meeting of the Executive Council of the African Union is a crucial step towards better regional integration and enhanced cooperation among African countries. Discussions on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and Agenda 2063 are paving the way for a bright future for Africa, where the continent’s economic potential can finally be fully tapped. The work done at this meeting will undoubtedly help move Africa forward towards a more prosperous and sustainable future