December 19 to 20th 2022 the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Finance and the Blue Economy Sao Tomé and Principe (STP), held a workshop for the validation of the National Strategy of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The workshop, which took place from December 19-20, in Sao Tomé, was part of a technical assistance project aimed at deepening trade integration through effective AfCFTA implementation, led by ECA, with the financial support of the European Union.
The opening ceremony was chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Adelino Cardoso, also representing the Minister of Planning, Finance and Blue Economy.
This opening ceremony was punctuated by two speeches by the representative of the ECA/BSR-AC and the Minister of Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment.
The workshop which sought to set up the guidance mechanism of the AfCFTA for Sao Tomé et Principe was based on the participatory and inclusive approach with more than 60 participants from the private and public sectors, and civil society.
A multisectoral bureau (public sector, private sector, civil society) was established to ensure an effective coordination during the workshop and to facilitate the exchange of information between São Tomé and Príncipe and the ECA. The bureau, composed of a chairperson (public sector), a co-chairperson (private sector), and three rapporteurs (public sector, private sector, civil society) led the entire workshop and contributed to the drafting of the workshop report.
The analysis and discussion of the Strategy during the two days of work in São Tomé was done in a warm, participative, and fruitful way.
The objective of the workshop was:
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To review the diagnosis study and to propose actions to enable STP to make the most of the AfCFTA; and
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Make recommendations to refine and complete the strategy's action plan
The sessions consisted in the presentation of the Strategy, followed by a discussion and group works.
The draft Strategy presented during the workshop was approved by the participants subject to the consideration of all the remarks, observations, and proposals made, including the addition of a digital axis among the priority axes.
The workshop closed with the motion of thanks of the co-chair, the word of thanks of the ECA representative, the closing speech of the representative of the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Blue Economy of Sao Tome and Principe.
Media Contact
Lot Tcheeko, Knowledge Management Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
637, rue 3.069, Quartier du Lac, Yaounde, Cameroon
Tel: +237 222504321
E-mail: tcheeko@un.org