Fatshimetrie, July 28, 2024 (ACP) – The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) recently highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration with the media to improve awareness on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) during the recent ZLECAF week in Douala. According to an official press release, it appeared essential to provide better information on projects such as the Customs Union and the common market within the framework of the ZLECAF.
At the heart of the concerns of the economic media in the sub-region is the need to make the ZLECAF more accessible and understandable to the general public. Marcel Tsoungui, editor-in-chief of Vision 4 Centrafrique, expresses the insufficient popularization of the publication concerning the ZLECAF, stressing that more efforts must be made so that this initiative is widely recognized.
Marie Laurence Nkee, head of the Central Africa department at CRTV, emphasizes the need to highlight not only the existence of the ECA’s ARIA publication, but also its recommendations for decision-makers and small and medium-sized businesses. . It is imperative that the benefits and opportunities offered by the ZLECAF are widely disseminated.
Francis Ikome, head of the regional integration section at the ECA, emphasizes that ARIA XI represents a real opportunity for regional integration in Africa. It is essential that this integration translates into concrete and tangible benefits for African populations.
To achieve these ambitions, close collaboration between the ECA and the media appears to be a key element. Frédéric Nonos of the Economie-Finances agency recommends that the ECA demonstrate the scope of ARIA XI by relying on the press to highlight the benefits of the ZLECAF and the Customs Union for the private sector in Africa central.
In response to these concerns, Jean Luc Mastaki, director of the sub-regional office, highlights the work of the ECA in Central Africa and underlines the importance of industry in the dynamics of regional integration. The master plan for industrialization and economic diversification in Central Africa as well as the ZLECAF regional strategy for the sub-region are key elements in the transformation of the commercial ecosystem in Central Africa.
In conclusion, it is clear that to promote dynamic African regional integration that is beneficial for all, it is essential to strengthen collaboration between institutions such as the ECA and the media, in order to ensure effective awareness-raising and increased understanding of the issues. of the ZLECAF. Sharing relevant information and promoting the concrete benefits of these initiatives are essential to generate the commitment and participation of all stakeholders.