Regional initiatives vital for achieving AfCFTA, Agenda 2063 goals: Ethiopian Envoy

Addis Ababa, February 29, 2024 (FBC) – Regional projects play a crucial role in advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063 of the African Union, according to Tsegab Kebebew, Ethiopian Envoy to Switzerland and the UN Geneva.

During a presentation at the ambassadors’ New Year reception hosted by the Swiss Africa Business Circle (SABC) in Bern, Switzerland on February 28, 2024, Ambassador Tsegab emphasized the significance of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s strategic framework for inclusive and sustainable development, as a blueprint for Africa’s transformation with pan-African reach.

To bolster the Pan-African trade ecosystem, he highlighted the crucial role of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key project under AU 2063. He underscored the need for thorough coordination, harmonization, and progressive integration, emphasizing that Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are the most effective means to achieve this.

In this context, he elaborated extensively on significant regional projects underway in the IGAD region, where Ethiopia plays a pivotal role. These include the Addis-Djibouti corridor, Regional Energy Trade among East African Countries, and the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project, wherein Ethiopia holds substantial stakes.

According to the Ambassador, these initiatives support the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area and Agenda 2063 of the African Union, which seek to boost socioeconomic development, lower poverty, and strengthen Africa’s connectivity and competitiveness in the world economy.