Historic meeting of the Executive Council of the African Union: regional integration and free trade at the heart of discussions for a prosperous future on the continent
The African Union Executive Council recently started a four-day meeting, tackling crucial topics such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), education, budget issues, African candidacies to international bodies , institutional reforms of the AU and Agenda 2063. This meeting illustrates the commitment of the African Union towards regional integration, peace and the economic development of the continent.
In his opening address, Dr. Alfred Mutua, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya, called on Member States to accelerate regional integration and harness their comparative advantages to promote free trade by unlocking the socio-economic potential of Africa. He also stressed the importance of consolidating Africa’s voice on climate change and getting 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, for her part, underlined that this biannual coordination meeting will make it possible to assess the state of African integration, coordinate the division of labor and harmonize policies to accelerate the integration of the continent.
Delegates from Member States are present to share their views and work together towards achieving the ambitious goals of Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
This crucial meeting demonstrates the importance attached by the African Union to regional integration, peace, security and economic development in Africa. It brings together important personalities in an atmosphere conducive to serious discussions on the future of the continent