Mozambique: Meeting of African Trade Ministers kicks off in Maputo

For the Mozambican government, the meeting of trade ministers also seeks to harmonise positions and reinforce African cooperation within the multilateral trading system, with the event bringing together senior government officials and representatives of regional economic communities. Organisers expect the meeting to culminate in the adoption of the Maputo Ministerial Declaration, which will reflect the African position to be presented at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, approved by the African Union in 2019, entered into force at the beginning of 2021.

It is a continental integration project covering more than 1.4 billion people and mobilising an economic potential of US$3.4 trillion in Africa. Forty-nine countries have already ratified the treaty, which is expected to allow a significant reduction or elimination of customs tariffs on trade within the region. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Mozambique’s Secretary of State for Trade, António do Rosário Grispos, chaired the Meeting of African Senior Trade Officials in Maputo, a preparatory session ahead of the Ministers’ Meeting.

The session focused on harmonising African countries’ positions within the multilateral trading system, aiming to strengthen continental coordination and defend common strategic interests. Kicking off the meeting of African Ministers of Trade to prepare for MC14 in Maputo, Mozambique with a dinner hosted by the Honourable Minister of the Economy H.E Basílio Zefanias Muhate@basiliomuhateand with H.E Francisca Tatchouop Belobe@AU_ETTIM– African Union Commissioner…pic.twitter.com/4rfWLyCoDx