Trade Minister reassures Algerian economic operators, insists on imperative to accelerate activation of AfCFTA
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS– The Minister of Trade and Export Promotion, Tayeb Zitouni, has emphasized the urgent need to accelerate the activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking from Nairobi, where he participated in the AfCFTA trade ministers meeting, Mr. Zitouni stressed the importance of establishing a genuine continental strategy, particularly in the areas of industrial textiles, raw materials, and subcontracting in the automotive sector. He highlighted the potential of the African continent and called for the exploitation of all available resources to increase the rate of integration and achieve continental economic integration between African states.
During his presentation on the rules of origin relating to vehicles and textiles, Mr. Zitouni emphasized the imperative to initiate intra-African trade as a first step towards developing various industries following a continental strategy. He believes that this approach will create new jobs and value chains, allowing African states to create wealth through the transformation of raw resources and their industrialization at the continental level.
“Our goal is to encourage intra-trade between African countries, leveraging our national products’ competitiveness and promising opportunities. This will contribute to supporting our national economy and enhancing its position on the African continent. We invite Algerian economic operators to prepare to enter new markets on the continent through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and benefit from all available opportunities. As the trade and export promotion sector, we are committed to supporting and accompanying all dealers to achieve the desired goal and increase the volume of our exports,” the Minister reassured the Algerian economic operators in a post on his official Facebook page.
The minister’s call to action comes at a critical time when the African continent is seeking to boost its economic growth and development. By accelerating the activation of AfCFTA and implementing a continental strategy, African states can unlock their full potential and achieve greater economic integration. This will not only create new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs but also contribute to the overall prosperity of the continent.
It is important to note that a meeting took place in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on May 30th and 31st. The purpose of this meeting was to establish priorities for the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement, in line with the African Union’s (AU) theme for this year, which is to accelerate the activation process of the AfCFTA agreement.
During his participation in the meeting, Mr. Zitouni, the Algerian Minister of Trade, was received by Moses Kuria, the Kenyan Minister of Trade and Industry. They discussed the economic cooperation between their two countries and explored ways to enhance it to match the deep political relations and historical brotherhood that unite Algeria and Kenya. The Ministry’s press release confirms Algeria’s commitment to working with Kenya to revitalize bilateral frameworks that can boost trade relations to the desired level.
Furthermore, Mr. Zitouni held a meeting with David Bahati, the Ugandan Minister of Commerce and Industry. They discussed the implementation of the conclusions of the state visit that the Ugandan President had carried out in Algeria. This visit resulted in the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at strengthening economic relations between the two countries. The meeting explored ways and means of implementing these agreements and enhancing economic cooperation between Algeria and Uganda.
Besides, Mr. Zitouni met with the Tunisian Minister of Trade and Export Development, Kalthoum Ben Rejeb, where both parties expressed their satisfaction with the current level of economic and commercial relations between the two brotherly countries. Mr. Zitouni reiterated his commitment to supporting the level of bilateral trade, emphasizing the significance of maintaining strong ties between Algeria and Tunisia.
Ms. Ben Rejeb also welcomed the current dynamism displayed by Algerian-Tunisian fraternal relations, highlighting the mutual benefits that come with fostering a strong economic partnership.
In conclusion, these meetings are crucial to strengthening economic relations between African countries and promoting the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement. Algeria is committed to working with its African brothers to enhance economic cooperation and promote mutual growth and development.
