OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE 11TH MEETING OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AfCTA) COUNCIL OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE

The Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Mmusi Kgafela will this morning officiate at the 11th meeting of AfCTA Council of Ministers responsible for Trade.

The AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight ( Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The overall mandate of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market with a population of about 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately US$ 3.4 trillion. The AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, the African Union’s long-term development strategy for transforming the continent into a global powerhouse.

The African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Council of Ministers of Trade and Senior Trade Officials Meeting will give Batswana the opportunity to benefit from inter-regional trade within the African Continent, and greatly contribute to the growth and diversification of Botswana’s economy.