Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira has stressed the importance of trade, saying the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is key in promoting continental integration.
Prof Murwira said this in an interview on Wednesday after attending the 18th Meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade under the AfCFTA.
“What is very important to note first and foremost is that trade is the lifeblood of foreign relations. It is the lifeblood of continental integration. So the AfCFTA is a very important continental instrument for continental integration,” Prof Murwira said.
He said the meeting had discussed several issues that include the harmonisation of tariffs, agriculture and other areas that impact on trade.
“Most importantly, trade and increased trade are the best indicators of continental integration,” he said.
“As you know, the continental average of intra-African trade is below 20 percent, which means that over 80 percent of our trade is oriented towards the outside, basically the former colonial powers.
“But if we trade more among ourselves, we will be able to strengthen our economies. One of the most important issues we also agreed to escalate to the Heads of State and Government is trade in agricultural products. Agriculture is the mainstay of the Continent and indeed the world. We agreed on this because it was not yet fully part of the protocols we were considering.”
AfCFTA Secretary General, Mr Wamkele Mene commended the growth in trade within AfCFTA.
“What I would say at this point is that under the leadership of the Council of Ministers, commercially meaningful trade under the framework of the AFCFTA is gathering pace. Preferences are extended amongst State parties,” he said.
“The operational tools of the AFCFTA are becoming more robust. By the end of March 2026, more than 10,000 certificates of origin had been issued under the agreement. This, of course, provides the evidence that is required that the AFCFTA is indeed in implementation mode.
“We should, however, be concerned that there are only 26 state parties that have gazetted the agreement. These positive developments are beginning to reflect in broader trade terms.”
Mr Mene said statistics from Afrexim Bank project that Africa’s total trade by the end of the year, will amount to approximately US$230 billion, which is an increase of 10 percent from 2025.
