Egypt leads AfCFTA competition talks towards unified continental market rules

Egypt hosted on Thursday the second meeting of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Competition Authorities Committee, bringing together regulators from 36 African nations to advance the development of a unified competition framework across the continent.

The meeting, convened by Egypt’s Competition Authority (ECA), focused on finalising draft regulations for the establishment of a continental competition body and aligning national competition policies with AfCFTA objectives. Participants reviewed proposals on merger control, dominance regulation, and the operational procedures of the future African competition authority, according to an ECA statement.

ECA Chairman Mahmoud Momtaz highlighted the country’s commitment to fostering cooperation among member states. “Harmonising competition rules is essential to unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade, supporting economic growth, and protecting consumers,” he said in his opening remarks.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene praised Egypt for hosting the meeting and noted progress made since the committee’s first session in May, which established the policy framework and operational mandate for the continental competition network.

The meeting concluded with participating countries adopting key recommendations, including thresholds for merger notifications and procedures for enforcing competition rules across borders. Officials emphassed that these steps are designed to create a predictable business environment, facilitate cross-border investment, and strengthen market efficiency across Africa.

The ECA chairman attendees for their participation and expressed optimism that continued collaboration would help embed robust competition policies across AfCFTA member states, benefiting both consumers and economies throughout the continent.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English