Egypt applies to host African Free Trade Agreement's executive office

CAIRO – 20 May 2019: Egypt, Ghana and Eswatini have applied to host the principal executive office of the planned African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Namira Negm, the legal adviser of the African Union (AU) said.

In a training course organized by the AU legal adviser's office in Cairo, Negm said that the AfCFTA will enter into force in May after 22 states have approved it.

The AU Commission formed a committee to evaluate the preparations of each of the countries applying to host the agreement, Negm said.

In 2018, Egypt was elected as chair of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government for a one-year term in 2019.

The African Union Commission will fully cooperate with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as chairman of the AU to solve African issues and achieve remarkable progress in the sustainable development agenda, AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said in February.

Faki thanked Sisi for providing a clear-cut and comprehensive review of the continent's issues. He also praised the choice of 2019 as the year of refugees and displaced people in Africa, calling for uprooting the reasons of the file.

He also hailed the serious discussions held during the sessions of the summit, particularly the ones on peace and security in the continent.

Parts of the reporting were taken from MENA