Creation of AfCFTA, crucial step for continental integration

NIAMEY (Niger) - Algeria reaffirmed Friday its commitment to the objectives of complementarity and integration in Africa, considering the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a crucial step towards achieving continental integration.
In the contribution presented at a closed session on the African Continental Free Trade Area as part of the work of the 17th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU), Algeria considered the creation of the AfCFTA as "a crucial step towards the achievement of continental integration", believing that its entry into force "reflects the strong political will of our States in favor of the effective consecration of the African Development Agenda 2063 and its pioneering projects, in order to achieve its first objective: a prosperous Africa based on inclusive and sustainable development".
Saying proud of this "historic achievement", Algeria welcomed all that has been achieved so far.
Algeria, which has worked for the realization of the  AfCFTA from the beginning of negotiations recalls that it is one of the largest free trade areas in the world with a market of more than 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of about 2.5 trillion dollars.
Algeria has also reaffirmed its commitment to the objectives of complementarity and integration in Africa, which "reflects its vision of integration through its national infrastructure and its sustained support to all initiatives in this direction.
Algeria recalled that its action for "the strengthening of economic corridors in our region, as well as its permanent and qualitative participation in all meetings devoted to the revitalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), is part of the common effort to achieve the aspirations of our peoples as to this agreement.
This agreement will allow "to increase the rate of inter-African trade, currently estimated at nearly 15%, to levels worthy of our capabilities and our aspirations," in addition to "the creation of an African market that ensures free movement of goods between countries and establish, thereafter, a customs union and an African economic group by 2028 to compete with other international economic blocs.
"Our summit comes in a specific international situation whose repercussions require us to adhere, more than ever, to a more serious process for the revitalization of our economic tools and mobilization of our capabilities to achieve our aspirations contained in the AU agenda to 2063, including the  AfCFTA, "said the source.
"We believe that this summit is a good initiative that offers us the opportunity to concretize effective approaches and initiatives that lead to the best means for the implementation of this agreement so as to achieve the aspirations of our peoples in accordance with the principles and noble ideals of our founding fathers of our continental organization.
"We are fully aware that our journey is only at its beginning. We must work harder to activate this agreement," added the source, stressing that this is done through "effective implementation of its operational tools, the liberalization of trade and services, the establishment of competition rules, the settlement of disputes and the protection of intellectual property.
Algeria, which has undertaken several economic reforms "remains fully convinced of the need to support economic policies aimed at raising the rate of industrial growth and economic diversification in African countries in favor of the  AfCFTA.
According to the contribution, it is necessary to "develop African infrastructure, implement structuring projects, establish a suitable logistical environment for the traffic of goods, services and contacts and reduce the costs of transport and investment.
It should be recalled that "the entry into service of the AfCFTA, in January 2021, occurred in a special situation marked by the spread of the pandemic Coronavirus and the exasperation of its multiple repercussions that place us, without a shadow of a doubt, face our responsibilities in consolidating international cooperation and solidarity or the activation of mechanisms for multilateral action.
This approach tends to "jointly address these challenges, establish the foundations of a new world order post-Covid, establish standards of justice and equity and ensure equal participation of all countries without distinction.
President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune had expressed his thanks and gratitude to the brotherly state of Niger for the good organization of this major event, wishing "full success to the work of this summit," focused on industrialization and economic diversification in Africa, as well as the  AfCFTA.

Algeria has achieved real industrial growth thanks President Tebboune's program
NIAMEY - Prime Minister Aïmene Benabderrahmane said Friday in Niamey (Niger) that Algeria had achieved "a real industrial growth" thanks to the program of President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the volume of its non-hydrocarbon exports having tripled compared to 2019.
In a statement to the press at the end of the work of the 17th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) on industrialization, economic diversification and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where he represented President Tebboune, Benabderrahmane said that Algeria had presented its vision on these important issues for African integration.
The achievements of Algeria in recent years under the leadership of President Tebboune were highlighted at the summit, he added, stressing that the program of the President of the Republic had achieved "a real industrial boom," citing as proof "the results achieved in the field of non-hydrocarbon exports whose volume has tripled compared to the year 2019.
The Algerian approach to industrial and economic diversification and the African Continental Free Trade Area was also highlighted during the summit by the Prime Minister.
"Since the accession of Algeria to this area, we are working to remove some barriers, including rules of origin and rules of integration in different industries, "he said.