The UK launches a programme of up to £35m to support negotiations and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCTFA is expected to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, create jobs, and provide new commercial opportunities for businesses across Africa and the UK. It comes as Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, visits London to discuss how the UK can continue its work as a strategic partner to the trading bloc.
International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has announced a new UK programme to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) trading bloc.
Through the AfCFTA Support Programme, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will provide up to £35m to provide trade facilitation and trade policy support to the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Member States through TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and other regional partners.
The announcement of the programme comes as AfCFTA Secretariat Secretary-General Wamkele Mene visits London to discuss how the UK can continue its work as a strategic partner to the AfCFTA.
As the world’s largest free trade area, the AfCFTA has the potential to boost Africa’s economic growth by driving industrialisation, generating jobs and delivering prosperity across the continent.
For UK businesses, the trade bloc will remove market access barriers by creating a single continental market, making it easier and more cost-effective for UK businesses to export goods and services across the 54 AfCFTA member states.
International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:
As an independent free-trading nation, the UK strongly supports the AfCFTA – the largest free trade area in the world.
We’re keen to see continued momentum on outstanding negotiations, and on practical implementation of the agreement on the ground.
This new aid programme shows that trade is a force for good, and will lead to increased trade, investment, and prosperity for both Africa and the UK.
Minister for Africa Vicky Ford said:
This new aid programme shows that trade is a force for good, and will lead to increased trade, investment, and prosperity for both Africa and the UK
Closer integration between African economies boosts growth across the continent creates opportunities and helps lift people out of poverty.
The UK is a committed partner in this mission. This UK funding will promote long-term partnerships between African countries and support a more prosperous, greener continent.
I am delighted to be supporting the AfCFTA Secretariat and its Member States to deliver freer and fairer trade systems in Africa.
