Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning & Economic Dev’t underway in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa, March 17, 2025 (FMC) – The fifty-seventh session of the Economic Commission for Africa: Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development kicked off in Addis Ababa this morning in the presence of the FDRE President Taye Atske-Selassie, UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete, AU Commission Chairperson Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, ministers, and other senior dignitaries from across the continent.
This year’s theme is “Advancing the Implementation of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area: Proposing Transformative Strategic Actions.”
Recall that the session of the Committee of Experts of the Conference was held in Addis Ababa from 12th to 14th March 2025, , followed by side events from 15 and 16 March.
The conference convened Africa’s leading economic policymakers to discuss and propose strategic actions for advancing the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Participants are exploring the necessary institutional frameworks, complementary measures, and initiatives that African countries should adopt to accelerate the Agreement’s implementation, while ensuring that trade supports the continent’s industrialization and diversification efforts.
Participants include African ministers responsible for finance, planning, and economic development; governors of central banks; senior government officials; representatives from intergovernmental organizations; development partners; private sector entities; civil society organizations; and other key stakeholders.
This platform is said to be crucial in expediting the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to transform Africa into a prosperous and integrated continent.
Scheduled for 17th to 18th, the ministerial segment includes a high-level policy dialogue on the theme of the session, the annual Adebayo Adedeji lecture and round-table discussions on a series of sub-themes.
The Launch of the Economic Report on Africa, 2025, and round-table discussions on sub-themes, including the nexus between the African Continental Free Trade Area and infrastructure development, promoting cross-border investment, instant payment systems and digital inclusivity in Africa, and Special economic zones as drivers of the development of regional value chains in the context of the AfCFTA is scheduled to be held during the ministerial session.
