On Wednesday 23 February 2022, an awareness and information session on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), organized by the AfCFTA National Committee (AfCFTA-NC), took place at the Ministry of Planning and Development premises. The session saw the participation of various representatives from structures and directorates within the Ministry.
This meeting is part of the ongoing mission to popularize and increase awareness of the AfCFTA agreement among key stakeholders to enhance ownership and understanding. This effort aligns with Workstream 2 of the national strategy for implementing the agreement, developed by the National Committee.
During the session, Mr. Clément Kouadio KOUAKOU, Deputy Cabinet Director, expressed gratitude on behalf of Mrs. Nialé KABA, Minister for Planning and Development, and lauded this AfCFTA's initiative. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness among public bodies regarding the mechanism and the opportunities that AfCFTA signatories and partners could harness. Mr. KOUAKOU noted that the 2021-2025 National Plan highlights the AfCFTA as a crucial pillar of trade agreements.
The team from the AfCFTA National Committee delivered a presentation that detailed the issues and challenges of implementing the AfCFTA at both national and continental levels.
Following the presentation, Mrs. Fatoumata Fofana Boundy, Executive Secretary of the AfCFTA-NC, engaged with participants, answering numerous questions and sharing valuable insights on the future prospects of the AfCFTA.
On behalf of Mr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Minister of Trade and Industry and Chairman of the AfCFTA-NC Technical Committee, Mrs. Fofana expressed gratitude to the attendees and reaffirmed the Committee's commitment to close collaboration with public administrations. She highlighted the National Committee's dedication to taking all necessary measures to enable stakeholders to reap the benefits of the AfCFTA agreement.
At the conclusion of the awareness-raising session, several recommendations emerged from both parties. These included the initiation of an impact study on the implementation of the AfCFTA in Côte d'Ivoire to better understand and appreciate the short- and long-term benefits of the national strategy. Additionally, the establishment of a cooperative teamwork plan between the AfCFTA-NC and relevant structures within the Ministry of Planning and Development was suggested to develop effective strategies.