EU-TAF support to the AfCFTA

🌍 Today, 20 November, we celebrate Africa Industrialization Day as we gear up for Africa Industrialization Week (AIW) 2024. Industrialisation is the backbone of economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development. With transformative initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa is making bold strides toward stronger economic integration and regional trade. These efforts create opportunities for global competitiveness while empowering local communities. The European Union🇪🇺 and its Member States actively support this transformation through programmes that boost innovation, trade facilitation, and sustainable infrastructure development. 💡 Let’s continue working together to ensure industries flourish, trade grows, and communities prosper. #AfricaIndustrializationDay #AIW2024 #AfCFTA #TeamEurope #GlobalGateway

📢 Empowering Malawi’s Future Trade Negotiators! This week in Lilongwe 🇲🇼, the Malawi Ministry of Trade and Industry and Malawi Investment and Trade Center are training 5️⃣ 0️⃣ trade officers in essential negotiation skills, including for the #AfCFTA. 🎯 Training Focus: 🔹 Deepen understanding of trade negotiation dynamics 🔹 Provide tools for effective planning and engagement 🔹 Build expertise in identifying Malawi’s trade interests 🔹 Strengthen economic diplomacy skills The EU 🇪🇺, with Member States 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 🇸🇪, proudly supports this to promote regional integration and sustainable economic growth across Africa. 🌍💼 #teameurope #GlobalGateway #EconomicIntegration GIZ African Union

#BiasharaAfrika2024 wrapped up last week in Kigali, Rwanda. At this flagship event of the AfCFTA, over 1,300 participants explored the future of trade under the #AfCFTA, addressing critical topics such as supply chain resilience, private sector engagement, health and trade integration, standards and mutual recognition, and Access to Finance, mainly focusing on women and youth in trade. 🗝 highlights include the expansion of the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (#GTI) and the launch of the new #NTB Reporting App (https://lnkd.in/dCeTJU33), which aims to simplify reporting NTBs in addition to the existing online tool. #BA24 #teameurope, #GlobalGateway GIZ African Union Expertise France FIIAPP

🎉 An inspiring start to #BiasharaAfrica2024! 🌍✨ in Kigali The day kicked off with a vibrant opening ceremony, followed by insightful panels featuring key players from the Private Sector, sharing real-life experiences of trading under the #AfCFTA. We also heard from development partners on how strategic partnerships are driving Africa’s future! 🚀🤝 Looking forward to more transformative conversations shaping the continent's growth in the coming two days. #IntraAfricanTrade #TeamEurope #GlobalGateway FIIAPP GIZ African Union Expertise France

🌍 Strengthening Uganda's Services Sector for AfCFTA Success! On 1-2 October 2024, Uganda's Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) hosted a successful two-day sensitisation workshop on #ServicesTrade Clusters and the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (#GTI) with support from the EU-TAF. 🎯 The workshop had a clear goal: to empower participants representing key sectors like IT, transportation, finance, and engineering by enhancing their understanding of AfCFTA's Trade in Services protocol. Participants explored new opportunities for cross-border services trade and discussed barriers to exporting services. 🗝 The private sector remains crucial for effective AfCFTA implementation, and these initiatives are key steps toward boosting Uganda's export competitiveness!

This week in Nairobi, Kenya 🇰🇪 , IGAD, supported by EU-TAF, is organising a Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop on coordinated border management for the IGAD region. The workshop brings together experts from IGAD Member States to identify best practices and strengthen institutional capabilities in customs and border management. 🔑 The Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop aims to achieve several impactful outcomes:   ✅ Accelerating cross-border trade by reducing bottlenecks and aligning customs policies.  ✅ Strengthening regional cooperation to ensure smoother movement of goods and services.  ✅ Expanding economic opportunities and building resilience for businesses and communities.  ✅ Enhancing access to markets, contributing to peace and economic stability across the region. By ensuring that capacity-building efforts reach local levels, IGAD is laying a strong foundation for a more integrated and prosperous future in the region. #GlobalGateway #AfCFTA #CustomsManagement Expertise France Mehdi Mehamha Augustine Owusu Jennifer Blagogee

🚀 Wrapping up an impactful 3-day workshop in Dakar, Senegal! 🇸🇳 The CCR UEMOA hosted the second workshop in a three-part series, focusing on key areas such as Non-Tariff Barriers (#NTBs), Standards, Quality, Labeling, and Certification.  With 4️⃣ 0️⃣ private sector representatives from across the UEMOA region, the event was packed with interactive sessions, practical exercises, and rich exchanges. 🎯 The goal? ➡ To arm participants with the tools and insights they need to fully capitalise on the opportunities offered by the #AfCFTA. Stay tuned for more as we continue to drive change across the region! 🌍 GIZ African Union #TeamEurope #GlobalGateway

🌍 #HappeningNow Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦 A 3️⃣ -day Consultative Workshop focused on shaping the regional strategy for implementing the #AfCFTA in the SADC region. 🔗 Who’s here?   ✅ Representatives from public & private sectors across the SADC Region ✅ Members of the SADC Secretariat and the SADC Business Council ✅ Development partners such as United Nations Economic Commission for Africa 🎯 Workshop Goals  Engage key stakeholders, gather insights on AfCFTA implementation, identify priorities, challenges, and opportunities, and drive discussions on the future of SADC’s economic development. We proudly support this event through our implementing partner, FIIAPP reaffirming our unwavering commitment to advancing African economic integration.  #TeamEurope #GlobalGateway #EconomicDevelopment #AfricanIntegration

Ensuring that everyone at every level understands how to smoothly implement the AfCFTA is essential for its success. From customs officers to private sector actors, proper training and knowledge sharing are key to maintaining efficient trade flows and unlocking the full potential of this historic agreement. Following on from the Private Sector Workshop few weeks back , the East African Community (EAC), with support from Team Europe - Technical Assistance Facility (EU-TAF), is organising a Customs Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop in Nairobi 🇰🇪 from 30th September to 5th October 2024. The workshop focuses on equipping customs officers with the skills needed to manage AfCFTA customs procedures, apply Rules of Origin, and utilize digital tools to streamline trade processes. By preparing customs officers to effectively implement the AfCFTA, the EU-TAF is helping to reduce border delays, improve trade coordination, and enhance economic integration across the region 🌍. #AfCFTA #EAC #EconomicIntegration #GlobalGateway

La CNZLECAf CI renforce les capacités de femmes et de jeunes lors d’un atelier sur le marketing digital. Les 25 et 26 Septembre 2024, l’Association des Jeunes Entrepreneurs de Côte d’Ivoire - AJECI a pris part à un atelier de renforcement de capacités sur le marketing digital, organisé à l'HOTEL IVOTEL par le Comité National de la Zone de Libre-Échange Continentale Africaine (CN-ZLECAf). Cet événement a réuni une trentaine de femmes et jeunes, avec pour objectif de les équiper des compétences nécessaires pour développer une activité commerciale prospère en ligne. L'atelier s'est concentré sur des thématiques clés visant à améliorer la maîtrise des outils digitaux pour le commerce en ligne et la présentation des outils opérationnels numériques mis en place par la ZLECAf pour soutenir les activités commerciales sur le continent. L'atelier, conduit par les expertes de l'ONG Impact HER Africa, dédiée à l'autonomisation des femmes Africaines, a offert aux participants une formation complète et interactive. Il a été précédé des interventions de M. Mehdi Mehamha (Chef de projet à Expertise France EU-TAF), de M. Mathurin Bombo (Représentant du Ministre du Commerce et de l'Industrie) et de Mme Bamba Matieni (Représentante de la Secrétaire Exécutive de la CN-ZLECAf). Les expertes ont veillé à ce que chaque participant s’approprie les concepts à travers des exercices pratiques, des études de cas, et des sessions de brainstorming, favorisant une compréhension approfondie. Des échanges dynamiques entre les formatrices et les participants ont contribué à une meilleure assimilation des sujets abordés, renforçant ainsi leur capacité à appliquer ces outils dans leurs activités en ligne. L’AJECI remercie chaleureusement le CN-ZLECAf pour cette opportunité précieuse et gratuite, et salue l’initiative de renforcer les compétences numériques des femmes et des jeunes entrepreneurs. Nous encourageons vivement à poursuivre cette dynamique pour un commerce en ligne plus compétitif et inclusif. Merci également Rita Pascale Kwaminan et le bureau de l'Association des Blogueurs de Côte d'ivoire ( ABCI) pour la couverture médiatique. #MarketingDigital #FormationInteractive #CompétencesNumériques #ZLECAf #EntrepreneuriatJeune #FemmesEntrepreneures #CommerceEnLigne #EcommerceAfrique #InnovationDigitale #RenforcementCapacités #AfriqueDigitale #InclusionNumérique