African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat

📢Call for Vendors!!📢 The AfCFTA Secretariat is excited to announce an opportunity for reputable and qualified companies to join our vendor pre-qualification list for upcoming tenders. We are seeking suppliers for a wide range of goods, services, non-consulting services, and works. If your company meets the criteria and is ready to contribute to the #AfCFTA’s mission, we encourage you to apply! Please consult the below document for guidelines and requirements, and submit the Vendor Registration Form through this link: https://lnkd.in/dwbtR8Xg. ‼️Please be advised that the AfCFTA Secretariat will not accept physical documents. All submissions must be made electronically via the dedicated Google Forms link.‼️

Seven years ago today, 44 countries signed the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area. Today, 54 have signed, 48 have ratified, and AfCFTA is shaping Africa’s trade reality. With the legal foundation in place, AfCFTA is expanding market access, strengthening trade corridors, and unlocking investment opportunities. Key tools, including PAPSS, the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, and the E-Tariff Book, are making trade more seamless. The Agreement, along with its protocols on Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights, Digital Trade, and Women and Youth in Trade, provides a rules-based framework for economic transformation. The Dispute Settlement Mechanism ensures transparency and investor confidence across Africa. AfCFTA is more than a trade agreement. It is Africa’s path to self-reliance, economic sovereignty, and sustainable growth. We remain committed to working with like-minded partners to accelerate implementation and create a thriving single market for all. The work is far from over. Implementation remains our priority. Africa’s trade future is here. Happy 7-year anniversary to the AfCFTA, the most rapidly ratified instrument in the history of the African Union.

The AfCFTA Secretariat is hosting the 4th Subcommittee on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in Lomé, Togo (19–21 March 2025). The meeting aims to strengthen the AfCFTA NTBs resolution mechanism  through review of the operational guidelines and enhance coordination among National Focal Points & Monitoring Committees. These efforts are key to eliminating trade barriers and ensuring the smooth implementation of the #AfCFTA. The meeting will also provide a status update on the resolved and active NTBs registered on the AfCFTA mechanism. #CreatingOneAfricanMarket

Congratulations to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria on Gazetting Its AfCFTA Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (PSTCs)! What does it mean to gazette or domesticate a trade commitment? It is an official announcement that enhances transparency, ensuring that businesses, organizations, and citizens are informed of new regulations coming into force. This marks a key step towards the full implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. For traders, this provides clarity and certainty confirming that Algeria will grant preferential tariff treatment to eligible goods upon importation, in line with its commitments under the AfCFTA Agreement. #AfCFTA #CreatingOneAfricanMarket

Today, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, welcomed H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Board Chair of TradeMark Africa (TMA), to the Secretariat for a public lecture and strategic engagement on advancing intra-African trade. Delivering a lecture on “AfCFTA as a Catalyst for the Realisation of Agenda 2063: Seizing Opportunities in a Changing World,” H.E. Desalegn highlighted the progress made under the AfCFTA and the opportunities it presents for Africa’s economic transformation. “The AfCFTA is already demonstrating its potential to reshape Africa’s economic landscape. By prioritising value addition, strengthening trade infrastructure, and deepening policy alignment, we can unlock new opportunities for African businesses and accelerate industrialisation.” In his remarks, H.E. Mene reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to ensuring the AfCFTA drives tangible economic transformation: “The AfCFTA is not just about trade; it is about fundamentally shifting Africa’s position in the global economy. By strengthening regional integration, building resilient value chains, and improving market access, we are laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth.” A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the AfCFTA Secretariat and TradeMark Africa (TMA). This partnership reinforces efforts to: ✔️ Eliminate Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and streamline customs procedures ✔️ Enhance digital trade infrastructure, including the AfCFTA E-CO system ✔️ Improve border efficiency to facilitate seamless cross-border trade ✔️ Boost private sector participation, particularly MSMEs and women traders ✔️ Strengthen trade corridors and transport networks to improve the movement of goods and services H.E. Mene emphasised that the AfCFTA Secretariat remains focused on delivering practical solutions that advance trade facilitation and support Africa’s economic aspirations: “Through strategic partnerships, we are not just facilitating trade—we are building the systems, infrastructure, and policies that will make intra-African trade more efficient, inclusive, and globally competitive.” With the AfCFTA at the centre of Africa’s economic transformation, the Secretariat continues to lead efforts that strengthen regional trade integration, promote industrial growth, and unlock sustainable economic opportunities for all Africans. #AfCFTA #TradeInAfrica #Agenda2063 #CreatingOneAfricanMarket #TradeFacilitation

Happening now: The AfCFTA Secretariat is convening the inaugural Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB) REC Coordination Meeting in Lomé, Togo, bringing together Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to strengthen collaboration in addressing NTBs across Africa. The meeting serves as a strategic platform for RECs and the Secretariat to align NTB-related activities, share key achievements, and identify best practices to enhance intra-African trade. Delegations are also discussing the role of National Monitoring Committees (NMCs) and National Focal Points (NFPs) in NTB resolution, as well as reinforcing coordination mechanisms to facilitate seamless trade under the AfCFTA. A well-coordinated approach is essential to eliminating NTBs and unlocking the full potential of the AfCFTA. #AfCFTA #CreatingOneAfricanMarket

The @AfCFTA is hosting the UNCITRAL Working Group III session on ISDS reform from 18–19 March 2025. This platform brings together key stakeholders to strategise, build consensus, and shape a unified African approach to investment governance. Discussions will focus on promoting, facilitating, and protecting Africa’s investments through a harmonised legal framework—aligning reforms with the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment and strengthening Africa’s role in international dispute resolution.

Today in Addis Ababa, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, participated in the 57th Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning & Economic Development, organised by @ECA_OFFICIAL. He emphasised the shift from legal frameworks to full AfCFTA implementation—delivering impact for SMEs, investors & economic operators. Initiatives like PAPSS will enhance SME participation & cross-border payments. Ministers are reviewing progress & key measures to accelerate AfCFTA’s success. Their collective commitment is crucial for Africa’s economic integration. #COM2025 #AfCFTA

Join Us for a Live Public Lecture with H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe The AfCFTA Secretariat invites you to a thought-provoking public lecture on: "AfCFTA as a Catalyst for Agenda 2063: Seizing Opportunities in a Changing World" Date: 18th March 2025 Time: 3:00 GMT Watch live on Facebook & YouTube: AfCFTA Secretariat H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, TradeMark Africa Board Chair and Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, will share insights on how AfCFTA is shaping Africa’s economic transformation. #AfCFTA #CreatingAnAfricanMarket #Agenda2063

On the sidelines of MOSIP Connect 2025, @African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat hosted a closed-door Breakfast Session with digital identity authorities from across Africa to discuss the digital identity regime established by the #AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and its role in enabling seamless cross-border trade.  The Session provided an opportunity for African digital identity authorities to share knowledge and best practices and foster collaboration to ensure a robust digital identity ecosystem in Africa. The participants commended the establishment of such a robust digital identity framework, which will enable secure verification, reduce fraud, streamline customs and cross-border payments, enhance access to socio-economic services, foster financial inclusion, and unlock the potential of intra-African trade. This is a key step toward integration! They emphasised the urgency and need to accelerate the implementation of the framework across all State Parties.   #AfCFTA #DigitalTrade #DigitalIdentity