Tumukunde was speaking Saturday in the meeting of Permanent Representatives’ Committee in preparation for the launch of AfCFTA.
Tumukunde appreciated the work of Issoufou Mahamadu, the President of the Republic of Niger and the head of African Continental Free Trade Area for relentless efforts and invaluable contributions towards the realization of AfCFTA.
“As you are all aware, the establishment of the AfCFTA is a critical political priority of our African Union leadership. It is also a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063,” she reminded.
She said that the AfCFTA is not about trade liberalization for its own sake, but rather it is also a political reflection of leaders’ commitment to finding joint solutions for African problems.
Tumukunde said that AfCFTA is a political statement and declaration of the idea of African Unity in economic and commercial terms. She added that without it and Africa’s economic integration, rhetoric about African unity will remain empty.
“With AfCFTA jobs would be created. Entrepreneurs will expand their businesses. African value chains will be developed and maintained, and those value chains will be linked to global value chains,” she said.
“Our young people will have genuine employment opportunities on the continent and no longer hanger for greener pastures in Europe or elsewhere because the greener pastures would be here,” she added.
Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Amb. Kwesi Quartey thanked President President Paul Kagame and the Chairperson for the African Union for his commitment, determination and ability to place Africa on the international scene.
He also thanked President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger for spearheading efforts geared at creating One African Market.
“I urge PRC to lay down fundamentals that enable us to execute the decision taken by AU Heads of State of creating one African market by putting in place the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
He said that African Continental Free Trade Area refers all to political symbolism.
“Africa taking charge of itself. Her voice should resonate with other projects that contribute to its development, especially consolidation of its integration and unity,” he said.
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat arrived in Kigali, on Friday to take part in the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area slated on Wednesday 21st March 2018, as well as in preparatory meetings at the level of the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Executive Council.
He will also take part in the Business Forum that will be held on the margins of the Summit, and take the opportunity to interact with private sector representatives.
The Kigali Extraordinary Summit was agreed to during the ordinary session of the Assembly of the Union held in Addis Ababa in late January 2018.
The Free Trade Area is one of the flagship projects of the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 and aims to deepen the integration process. It is being driven forward along with other key related initiatives such as the Single African Air Transport Market and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport.
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