AfCFTA Window: Exploring the impact of AfCFTA in African economies

In a recent interview on CNBC Africa's AfCFTA Window, Wamkele Mene, the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, and Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, shed light on the progress and challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation. The discussion centered around the importance of the Inter-Africa Trade Fair in fostering trade on the continent and the critical need for infrastructure development to facilitate regional trade. Mene highlighted the Guided Trade Initiative as a successful implementation strategy, with plans for more countries to join in the near future. Bekele-Thomas emphasized the need for countries to understand the implications of AfCFTA on their economies and the crucial role of infrastructure in enabling trade. Both officials underscored the significance of collaboration and investment in driving African prosperity through the AfCFTA.