Ethiopia launched the first export underthe African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) on Thursday (October 9). Vice President of the Prosperity Party and Head of the Coordination Center for Democracy Building with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister Adem Farah, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Kassahun Gofe, Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime, Minister of Justice Hana Araya Selassie, senior government officials and distinguished guests welcomed the first cargo.
The official launch of AfCFTA is a sign of the Ethiopian governmentâs continued efforts to turn its words into action, said Adem Farah.
In addition to Ethiopian Airlines cargo, launch cargo was also delivered by land transport. Agricultural products were sent to Kenya, Somalia, and South Africa, demonstrating Ethiopiaâs readiness to facilitate trade relations with the continent of 1.3 billion people and vast market opportunities, said Minister Kassahun Gofe.
This Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, implemented under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, is a major milestone for Ethiopia, a founding member of the African Union and a leading advocate of Pan-Africanism, said Kassahun. It will create an enabling environment for Ethiopia to take its rightful place in international trade relations, he added.
The implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement is not only a major milestone for Ethiopia, a founding member of the African Union and a shining star of Pan-Africanism, but also a crucial step toward the prosperity the country aspires to, said Minister Kassahun Gofe.
AfCFTA is a trade agreement launched on January 1, 2021, aimed at creating a single continental market for goods and services across Africa, encompassing African Union member states. Its main goals are to boost intra-African trade by reducing tariffs and trade barriers, stimulate industrialization and economic diversification, and enhance competitiveness of African economies in the global market.