By Stanley James, Business Editor
ZIMBABWE has outlined its roadmap to comply with the minimum requirements of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) to start trading.
An African Union Executive Council meeting for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) was held this Wednesday ahead of the Summit of Heads of State and Government set for Niger on Friday.
The meeting was a platform for Zimbabwe to update member states about its preparedness to start trading on the regional market.
“Zimbabwe is taking necessary steps, working closely with the secretariat, to meet the minimum requirements to commence trading, related to that, I wish to take this opportunity to appraise you on some of the low-hanging projects being facilitated by the AfCTA Secretariat, in partnership with Buhler Group, A Swiss Company in Zimbabwe,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Frederick Shava.
He also spoke on the private sector’s endorsement of the AfCTA roadmap.
“We note that there is a proposal to establish an AfCTA Intellectual Property Office, we do appreciate the efforts to bring the various instruments of our integration agenda under the umbrella organisations, the AfCTA especially were benefits, perceived or otherwise can be consolidated,” he added
The AfCTA, which boasts of over 54 signatories, consists of a diversified market base that offers a platform for Zimbabwe’s industry to widen its export earnings.