AU commissioner attends Africa Day ceremony at Egyptian embassy in Berlin

CAIRO - 29 May 2019: The African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Amani Abou Zeid said Wednesday that the infrastructure is a bedrock for activating African free trade and trade exchange among African countries.

Zeid' speech came at a ceremony held by the Egyptian embassy in Berlin on Africa Day.

Zeid added that the AU was keen to launch an initiative for a unified aviation market to give momentum to the African aviation sector in order to boost tourism and trade exchange.

She noted that the European Union, especially Germany, is a key partner to the AU, citing Germany's support for the AU programs for developing renewable energy resources and upgrading the infrastructure.

She added that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which the African Union launched last year will go into effect in June 2020.

Every year on May 25, Africans around the world celebrate the annual occasion of “Africa Day,” which marks the establishment of the Organization of African Unity in 1963 (now known as the African Union).

Several African countries sought to gain independence in a wave of decolonization in the continent, believed to be inspired by Ghana which became the first African state in the south Saharan to gain independence in 1957. The following year saw the first conference held by Independent African states in Ghana.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Ambassador in Berlin, Badr Abdel Ati underlined that Egypt - as the current chair of the African Union - will proceed with its efforts to realize economic development in Africa.

He stressed that development cannot be achieved without peace and security, highlighting Egypt's support for AfCFTA.