Cairo chairs 4th AfCFTA ministerial retreat
Egypt chaired the fourth Ministerial Retreat of the Council of Ministers of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on Monday, with Minister of Investment Hassan El-Khatib urging member states to accelerate the creation of a unified African market.
The meeting in Cairo brought together AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, trade ministers, and senior officials from across the continent to address outstanding issues on rules of origin – a key pillar for industrial integration and regional value chain development.
El-Khatib said discussions would also focus on adapting to global geopolitical and economic shifts, while stressing the role of digital transformation and electronic payment systems in boosting intra-African trade and attracting investment.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment, as current chair of the AfCFTA ministerial council, to advancing economic integration and building a resilient and competitive African economy.
El-Khatib expressed confidence that the retreat would yield “practical steps” to accelerate AfCFTA’s implementation, describing the outcomes as a step toward a unified market reflecting the ambitions of Africa’s 1.4 billion people.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: Y.Yasser