Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
THE African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has expressed its appreciation to Zimbabwe for its decision to host the next Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in 2027, describing the offer as a demonstration of Zimbabwe’s continued commitment to advancing the continental integration agenda.
The endorsement came on the margins of the concluded 18th Meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade under the AfCFTA in Abuja, Nigeria ON Tuesday, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira held a meeting with the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene.
“The AfCFTA Secretariat expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government of Zimbabwe for its decision to host the next Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in 2027, describing the offer as a demonstration of Zimbabwe’s continued commitment to advancing the continental integration agenda.”
It added that “the engagement reaffirmed the importance of strong collaboration between Member States and the AfCFTA Secretariat in driving inclusive economic growth, expanding intra-African trade, and accelerating Africa’s shared development agenda.”
“The meeting underscored Zimbabwe’s commitment to deepening its engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area and advancing regional economic integration,” the ministry said in an update.
The ministry noted that “discussions focused on unlocking trade and investment opportunities, enhancing value addition and industrialisation, and supporting the effective implementation of the AfCFTA to create a more competitive and prosperous African market.”
The AfCFTA, which brings together 54 African countries into a single market for goods and services, is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious integration projects globally with the potential to significantly reshape Africa’s economic landscape by boosting intra-African trade, strengthening value chains and accelerating industrial development.
Against this backdrop, Zimbabwe’s agreement to host the 2027 ministerial meeting is seen as reinforcing its positioning within the continental trade architecture and signalling its readiness to play a more active role in shaping policy direction under the free trade framework.
The 2027 hosting is expected to provide Zimbabwe with a platform to showcase its trade and investment potential, while also facilitating deeper engagement with African policymakers, private sector actors and development partners working to operationalise the continental free trade area.
