Starting in 2020, July 7 has been set aside to celebrate the African integration agenda and the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). In a separate statement, SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Tax said AfCFTA would address the fragmentation of Africa’s trading systems. As one of the eight pillars of the AU, Dr Tax said SADC had made tremendous progress in its integration agenda. The region achieved free trade area status in 2008, which has seen intra-regional trade grow to about 22 percent of total trade. Recognising the challenges associated with multiple membership of economic groups, the bloc became part of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) officially launched in June 2015.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 10, 2020 12:56 UTC