EU-TAF support to the AfCFTA

🚀 Unlocking Trade Opportunities: Empowering the Francophone COMESA Private Sector under AfCFTA 🌍 In 2024, the EU 🇪🇺 and its Member States ( 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 🇸🇪 ) proudly partnered with the COMESA Business Council (CBC) through the EU-TAF Support to the AfCFTA program. Together, critical gaps are being bridged, strengthening CBC’s ability to engage Francophone countries within the region. This initiative aimed to: ✅ Expand CBC's capacity for sensitisation, training, and advocacy on AfCFTA-related topics. ✅ Deepen private sector engagement in negotiating and implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). A successful AfCFTA Rules of Origin (RoO) training workshop was organised on December 17-18 in 🇸🇨 Seychelles. This workshop, which followed a sensitisation session in 🇹🇳 Tunis, centred on: ✅ Enhancing understanding, knowledge and skills to handle AfCFTA Rules of Origin among Francophone CBC member organisations and business leaders. ✅ Equipping businesses with tools to maximise trade opportunities within the African market. This initiative was implemented with the contribution of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) experts. Empowering institutions ensures that the benefits of AfCFTA extend to the broader business community across COMESA, fostering inclusive and sustainable development. *** 🚀 Stimuler les opportunités commerciales en renforçant le secteur privé francophone du COMESA dans le cadre de la ZLECAf 🌍 En 2024, l'UE 🇪🇺 et ses États membres ( 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 🇸🇪 ) ont établi un partenariat avec le COMESA Business Council (CBC) via la Facilité d'assistance technique (EU-TAF) d’appui à la ZLECAf. Grâce à ce partenariat, des fossés importants ont été comblés, renforçant ainsi la faculté du CBC à impliquer les pays francophones de la région. Cette initiative visait à : ✅ Accroître la capacité de CBC en matière de sensibilisation, de formation et de plaidoyer sur les sujets liés à la ZLECAf. ✅ Renforcer l'engagement du secteur privé dans la négociation et la mise en œuvre de la ZLECAf. Un atelier de formation sur les règles d'origine de la ZLECAf a été organisé avec succès les 17 et 18 décembre à Seychelles 🇸🇨 . Cet atelier, qui faisait suite à une session de sensibilisation à Tunis 🇹🇳, était axé sur : ✅ Améliorer la compréhension, les connaissances et les compétences des organisations membres francophones de la CBC et des chefs d'entreprise en matière de règles d'origine de la ZLECAf. ✅ Doter les entreprises d'outils leur permettant de maximiser les opportunités commerciales au sein du marché africain. Cette initiative a été mise en œuvre avec la participation d'experts de l'Organisation mondiale des douanes (OMD). Autonomiser les institutions garantit que les bienfaits de la ZLECAf s'étendent à l'ensemble de la communauté des affaires du COMESA favorisant un développement inclusif et durable. #TeamEurope #AfCFTA #CapacityBuilding Mehdi Mehamha Dr. Jennifer Blagogee

As the year 2024 ends, we reflect on the significant achievements we have made and the challenges we have overcome. This past year has been marked by remarkable progress in collaborating with continental, regional and national actors to advance the AfCFTA and African Economic integration agenda. Your invaluable contributions have been crucial to the progress achieved. With the same dedication and enthusiasm, we're gearing up for a vibrant 2025, a year of collaborations to achieve even greater milestones. Here’s to a fruitful and prosperous year built on the solid foundation of our joint efforts! We wish you a smooth transition into the New Year! #GlobalGateway, #TeamEurope #EU #GERMANY #FRANCE #SWEDEN GIZ African Union Expertise France FIIAPP

Sights and Scenes at the African Women in Processing Booths. On the sidelines of the Africa Industrialisation Week, and AWIP Forum, the exhibition area is active with the participation of women-owned businesses from different African Countries. The Platform allow businesses to learn about market opportunities in different African Countries, knowledge transfer, sourcing raw material for local production, and distribution channels for their finished Made in Africa products. Thanks to our partners EU-TAF support to the AfCFTA, and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)

🌍💡 Today, Africa Industrialisation Week (#AIW2024) kicked off in Addis Ababa with a Media Open Forum spotlighting critical themes in Africa's transformation journey. 🌱🤖 The forum featured engaging panel discussions on: ✅ Leveraging AI for Africa’s Industrial Growth ✅ Exploring Green Industrialisation – Best practices & opportunities ✅ Global Collaboration to drive sustainable development 🎤 During the panel on Global Collaboration, Matthias Reusing shared insights on the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, highlighting key programmes – including EU-TAF – actively supporting Africa’s industrialisation efforts. Together, we’re paving the way for sustainable growth and innovation across the continent! 🚀 #TeamEurope #GlobalGateway #SustainableDevelopment #AfricanIndustrialistion

On the Margins of the Africa Industrialisation Week, from December 9-13, 2024, the African Union - Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, Minerals (ETTIM) will hold the 3rd African Women in Processing Forum. The forum gives women-led processing companies the opportunity to: ·      Expand their Market Across Africa ·      Develop their Skills through trainings ·      Learn Sustainable Practices in processing ·      Network and Connect with other women producers Don't miss this event, happening in Addis Ababa #AIW2024 #IndustrializeAfrica

🌍 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!