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The Minister Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies will today leave for Niamey, Niger to participate in the 4th African Union (AU) Ministers of Trade Meeting from 1-2 December 2017.

The Ministerial meeting, which was preceded by the 8th Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) Negotiating Forum and the 4rd meeting of Senior Trade Officials, will consider amongst others, the progress made in the CFTA negotiations.

The CFTA negotiations were launched during the 25th Ordinary Summit of Head of States and Governments on the 15th of June 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The decision of Summit constitutes an attempt to fast –track the establishment of the African Economic Community and to harness the benefits of an integrated and fast-growing African market of more than one billion people.

The 3rd meeting of the AU Ministers of Trade held in Niamey, Niger, in June 2017 adopted the Modalities for Tariff Negotiations and the Modalities for Trade in Services Negotiations.

Earlier, Minister Davies said this will facilitate the exchange of tariff and services offers, as well as the finalisation of the CFTA Agreement. Minister Davies emphasised the importance of enhancing intra-Africa trade and investment, and regional economic integration through the CFTA.

Davies reiterated that South Africa is committed to a coordinated strategy that will boost intra-Africa trade and build an integrated market in Africa that will see a market of over 1 billion people and approximately US$2.6 trillion,” said Davies.

The President of the Republic of Niger Issoufou Mahamadou was mandated during the 28th Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government, to champion the process of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) Negotiations.

Issued by Department of Trade and Industry