In 2012, African Union (AU) leaders endorsed a plan to set up CFTA by 2017 which will be a key component of the AU’s strategy to boost trade within the region by at least 25-30 percent in the next decade.
Addressing a side event at the just-ended United States –Africa Business Forum here on Friday, COMESA assistant secretary general for programmes Kipyego Cheluget said establishing Africa’s first FTA with support from the US is an aspiration that still remains.
“The expectation then was that on top of bolstering unfettered intra-African trade, there will be a scenario when US-based firms will insert Africa into global value chains by investing in, and operating assembly, supply and distribution networks across African borders.
“That anticipation has not changed: As Africa makes progress on negotiating a CFTA, America’s private sector must seize the opportunity to propel the process further along, investing in future demand for American consumer goods from a common market of over one billion people,” Dr Cheluget said.
He said opportunities for America to directly and indirectly boost Africa’s regional integration exist in various forms; in further adjusting African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA)’s origin rules so that regional assembly and light manufacturing can thrive among AGOA beneficiaries.
Dr Cheluget said this will entail infusing resources into export-oriented agro-processing, and in bringing more American logistics companies to support the World Trade Organisation- Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO -TFA).
He also urged the delegates that alongside investing in the TFA, the US has an opportunity to undertake more capacity building to impact the millions of fast urbanising African youths.
A number of Rwandese in Lusaka closed their shops today and went into hiding for fear of the Rwandan intelligence officers who have flooded Lusaka as Rwandan President Paul Kagame is visiting Zambia.
Other agreements that have been signed include an agreement on defence and security cooperation and one on air services.
A number of Rwandese asylum seekers have refused to go back to Rwanda and opted to stay in Zambia at the end of their refugee status for fear of being killed if they go back.
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