Quality structures needed for successful Continental free trade

Adnan Adams Mohammed
Stakeholders are calling for strong institutions and quality
infrastructure to be put in place for the successful implementation of the
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
These include both soft and hard structures (infrastructure
and institutions) such as national and regional policies, laws, systems,
framework and quality road corridors, high speed rail networks, ports and
harbors, and efficient air transport must be put in place.
Many economists and trade experts have over the months urged
African countries to put in place the structures in order to derive the needed
benefit from participating in the continental free trade area.
“Governments must use a holistic approach in engaging all
key stakeholders including CSOs, academic institutions, businesses,
particularly SMEs, and relevant public sector organizations”, Mr Isaac Hubert
Arthur, the Executive Director of Africa Centre for International Trade and
Development (ACINTaD) speaking at the AfCFTA Civil Society Forum 2019 recently
said.
During a panel session on ‘Bringing the AfCFTA Closer to the
African People’, Mr Hubert noted that, the AfCFTA must benefit all Africans,
hence the need to interrogate the best ways and measures to ensure that all
Africans are made aware of the AfCFTA.
“Businesses should play the role of providing resources for
advocacy, research, documentation and dissemination as well as capacity
building for successful implementation of the AfCFTA.”
The AUC’s Deputy Chairperson, Mr Kwesi Quartey also speaking
at the event commended the Department of Trade and Industry initiative and
noted that, if successfully implemented, the AfCFTA could generate USD 6.7
trillion by 2030, accelerate industrial development, expand economic
diversification, and facilitate quality job creation for Africans.
Again, Ms Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Speaking on behalf of the
Executive Secretary of UNECA, Director of Gender, Poverty and Social
Protection, said the AfCFTA could boost intra-African trade from its current
level of 16 per cent to 52 per cent by 2022, according to UNECA studies.
She noted that visa and other immigration restrictions have
constrained mobility within Africa and “increased the vulnerability of migrant
and refugee populations on the continent,” the statement said.
The forum acknowledged the need for national policies to
support production and consumption of goods and services that will be
identifiable as being “Made in Africa” using quality standards, it added.
The purpose of the Civil Society Forum 2019 was, among
others, to enhance stakeholder engagement on the implementation of the AfCFTA
and increase participation opportunities for civil society stakeholders in the
work program of the AfCFTA.
The Forum brought together participants from Africa Civil
Society Organizations and umbrella Organizations on trade, labor, women and
youth, members of African Union Economic, Social & Cultural Council (AU
ECOSOCC), and many others.
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