The Official hand over and Commissioning of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Building

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August 17, 2020

Official hand over and Commissioning of the AfCFTA Secretariat Building

WHAT: The Official hand over and Commissioning of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Building

WHEN: Monday,17^th August, 2020

TIME: 1400h East African Time

WHERE: Register here: https://bit.ly/30Y8aja

WHO: The Africa Union Commission, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat hosted by the Republic of Ghana,

Welcome Remarks By Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister For Foreign Affairs And Regional Integration

Opening Statement by Hon. Alan Kyerematen, Minister for Trade And Industry

Address by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of The Republic of Ghana

Speech by H. E. Moussa Faki, Chairperson of The African Union Commission

Speech by H.E. Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, First AFCFTA Secretary-General

Goodwill Message From H.E Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger and AU AFCFTA Champion

Goodwill Message from H. E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of The Republic of South Africa and Chair of the African Union.

Background Information

The African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government during their 33^rd Ordinary Session held from 09 - 10 February 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. H.E Wamkele Mene , from South Africa, was selected as the first Secretary General (SG) and was sworn-in on 19 March 2020, for a four-year mandate. The AfCFTA Secretariat is in based in Accra, Ghana.

The Secretary General is expected to provide leadership and technical support to AfCFTA Secretariat and overall management of the day-to-day management of the AfCFTA Secretariat, implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and strategic collaboration; stakeholders' engagement; and resources mobilization for the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

The Agenda 2063 flagship initiative the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) refers to a continental geographic zone where goods and services move among member states of the AU with no restrictions. The AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade by providing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement among the member states, covering trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy. Other continental frameworks include Boosting Intra African Trade (BIAT) which aims to deepen Africa's market integration and significantly increasing the volume of trade that African countries undertake amongst themselves from the current levels of about 10-13% to 25% or more within the next decade and The Action Plan for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA), which aims to mobilize both financial and nonfinancial resources and enhance Africa's industrial performance.

For further information please contact:

Esther Azaa Tankou Head of Information Division, Tel: 0911361185; Email: yamboue@africa-union.org ; Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission

Media Contact: Ms. Faith Adhiambo | Communications Officer-Agenda 2063 | African Union Commission | E-mail: OchiengJ@africa-union.org|

Trade and Industry