ECA and AfCFTA sign MoU to strengthen trade integration

Nqobile Bhebhe
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the AfCFTA secretariat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The agreement was signed during the recent Africa Business Forum (ABF 2025) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The partnership aims to accelerate AfCFTA’s operationalisation by leveraging ECA’s expertise in trade policy, economic modeling, and capacity building.
The AfCFTA agreement, to which Zimbabwe is a signatory to, seeks to eliminate tariffs on 90 percent of goods traded between Member States over ten years.
Signed by 54 African Heads of State, the agreement aims to create a single African market of 1.3 billion people with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3.4 trillion.
Once fully implemented, AfCFTA will be the world’s largest new free trade area since the establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1994.
ECA, comprising 54 Member States, serves as both a regional arm of the United Nations and a key institution in Africa’s economic landscape.
It focuses on promoting economic and social development, fostering intra-regional integration, and strengthening international cooperation for Africa’s growth.
The MoU establishes a framework for ECA and the AfCFTA secretariat to collaborate in several critical areas.
It promotes access to markets and trade facilitation, supports the removal of barriers to trade and promotes deeper economic connections across African economies.
In a statement on Monday, ECA described the MoU as a step towards advancing trade integration, industrialisation, and private sector development across the continent.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete emphasised the importance of strong institutional partnerships.
“The implementation of AfCFTA is a transformative opportunity for Africa, but its success depends on strong institutional partnerships. This MoU solidifies our commitment to working with the AfCFTA secretariat to support Africa’s economic development.”
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene noted the significance of the collaboration.
“This partnership will enable us to accelerate the operationalisation of the AfCFTA by leveraging ECA’s expertise in trade policy, economic modelling, and capacity building.
“Together we can create a more enabling environment for African businesses and governments to fully utilise AfCFTA’s benefits.”