Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie has reiterated his country’s full commitment to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the opening of the 57th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development of the Economic Commission for Africa, the president expressed confidence in accelerating the implementation of AfCFTA, noting Ethiopia’s proven track record in regional integration.
Taye highlighted that Ethiopia is striving to achieve this regional integration through infrastructure development and electrical connectivity with its neighboring countries.
He further emphasized that the East African nation is fully committed to the comprehensive implementation of AfCFTA and is eager to collaborate with its African brothers and sisters to build a united, prosperous, and resilient continent.
“At the same time, we are prioritizing the domestic integration of the agreement, focusing on capacity-building to ensure readiness, and targeted outreach campaigns aimed at the private sector and key implementing bodies are underway,” he stated.
According to him, “Ethiopia places strong emphasis on infrastructure development, which is a key tool in our trade integration agenda.”
The president also referenced infrastructure connectivity with neighboring countries—South Sudan, Kenya, and Djibouti.
“Recently, we signed an agreement to connect Ethiopia and South Sudan, as well as reaffirmed our participation in the LAPSSET corridor, which underscores our commitment to expanding regional logistics and facilitating trade,” he noted.
These corridors are expected to significantly improve mobility, trade, and create better pathways for the implementation of AfCFTA. Beyond transport infrastructure, the president highlighted that Ethiopia is investing in regional energy integration.
By exporting renewable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to neighboring countries, Ethiopia is helping bridge Africa’s energy gap, a prerequisite for investment and industrialization. Furthermore, Ethiopia’s investment in industrial parks and special economic zones underscores its commitment to value-added production and manufacturing, Taye added.
