Ethiopia's First AfCFTA Shipment Marks a Leap Toward African Economic Sovereignty: UNECA Official
Ethiopia's First AfCFTA Shipment Marks a Leap Toward African Economic Sovereignty: UNECA Official
"[AfCFTA] is about development. It is about African sovereignty," Dr. Melaku Geboye Desta, Coordinator of Regional Integration and Trade Division of UNECA's African Trade Policy Center told Sputnik Africa.
Why AfCFTA matters for Ethiopia, according to the speaker:
🟠Ethiopia has never joined the WTO and lacks meaningful integration in existing regional trade blocs (e.g., COMESA, where its trade participation is capped at roughly 10%).
🟠AfCFTA unlocks a $3 trillion market of 1.4 billion people, transforming Africa from a “market for others” into “producers for ourselves.”
🟠True integration means dismantling barriers that restrict goods, services, and growth across borders, while preserving political independence.
Ethiopia made its first shipment under AfCFTA on Thursday, exporting coffee, meat, vegetables, fruits, and other products.
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
