AfCFTA secretary general visiting Namibia

AfCFTA secretary general visiting NamibiaEngaging to boost intra-African trade Discussing suitable trade policies and regulations to make the AfCFTA work for the Namibian business community. Mene is expected to have a meeting with the Office of the President, and consultations with sectoral ministers to discuss amongst others. Penda Naanda, Executive Director: Ministry of international relations and cooperation PHILLEPUS UUSIKU

Wamkele Mene, secretary general (SG) of the African Continental Free-Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, is on an official visit to Namibia from 05 to 09 April 2021.

This is Mene’s first official visit to Namibia since he was sworn in as the secretary general of the AfCFTA Secretariat on 19 March 2020.

According to the ministry of international relations and cooperation executive director, Penda Naanda, the SG is expected to have a meeting with the Office of the President, and consultations with sectoral ministers to discuss amongst others, Namibia’s readiness on the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

Yesterday, Mene participated in the launch of the African Economic Leadership Council in Swakopmund.

The African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government during their 33rd Ordinary Session held from 09 - 10 February 2020 in Addis Ababa, demonstrated determination to take rapid action to effectively operationalize the AfCFTA, by electing him for a four-year mandate. The headquarters of the AfCFTA Secretariat is in Accra, Ghana.

Responsibilities

The SG provides leadership and technical support to the AfCFTA Secretariat and overall management of the day-to-day functioning.

In addition, he is responsible for the management of the AfCFTA Secretariat, implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and strategic collaboration, stakeholders’ engagement and resources mobilization for the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

“While in Namibia, Mene will have engagements with the private sector to discuss, amongst others, measures to promote the benefits of the AfCFTA among the private sector, suitable trade policies and regulations to make the AfCFTA work for the Namibian business community and steps to increase intra-African trade,” he said.

Trading under the AfCFTA officially commenced on 01 January 2021, and Namibia stands ready to fully benefit from the biggest free-trade area in the world.