African countries and pan African institutions on Monday urged concerted efforts to deal with critical issues in the manufacturing sector. The urgent call was made by African experts and policymakers as they gathered to discuss on the operationalization phase of the imminent African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa on Monday, as they described the continental free trade pact as a positive imperative to strengthen collaboration among African countries to tackle common challenges. Parfait Onanga, the UN’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, who noted that the African continent “is still at the crossroads,” urged African countries to work together if the continent is to successfully respond to the critical issues it has been facing, mainly in the manufacturing sector. “The AfCFTA helps us to realize the vision of an integrated Africa and creates market opportunities for the private sector,” Mihretu added. Mufuruki also stressed that the AfCFTA is designed to provide solutions that African nations need to deal with the challenges in the manufacturing and research sectors.

Source: Ethiopian News July 02, 2019 21:11 UTC