KENYA has received its first shipment from Nigeria under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), marking a significant milestone in Africa’s push for economic integration. The announcement was made on Sunday by Nigeria’s AfCFTA Coordination Office, led by Olusegun Awolowo, following the directive issued at the 31st Ordinary Assembly of the African Union.
The shipment, which included synthetic filaments produced by Lucky Fibres Limited (Lush), a subsidiary of the Tolaram Group, was facilitated under AfCFTA’s preferential trade terms. Senior Trade Expert Olusegun Olutayo from Nigeria’s AfCFTA Coordination Office described the achievement as a triumph for the continent.
‘This is a historic moment and a realisation of the vision of our continent’s founding fathers and mothers. In an era of growing geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation, AfCFTA provides Africa with the perfect platform to enhance market access among member states,’ Olutayo said.
The Kenyan government’s seamless collaboration in facilitating the shipment was applauded by Olutayo, reflecting the core spirit of the AfCFTA agreement. The Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office also extended gratitude to the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Kenya AfCFTA Implementation Committee, and the Kenya Revenue Authority for their instrumental roles in making the initiative a success.
The African Continental Free Trade Area is one of Africa’s most ambitious economic initiatives, aimed at creating a single market for goods, services, and the mobility of people across 54 member states. With a collective population of over 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of nearly $3.4 trillion, AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area by member count.
The pact seeks to lower tariffs and other trade barriers, expand intra-African trade, and promote industrialisation through regional value chains and cross-industry collaboration. By fostering economic growth, it aims to improve living standards, reduce poverty, and position African nations to compete more effectively in global markets.
This milestone shipment between Nigeria and Kenya represents the early success of AfCFTA in driving trade integration across Africa. As more countries leverage the agreement, the continent is set to unlock unprecedented economic potential, benefiting its citizens and global trade partnerships alike.
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