By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Federal government has inaugurated the Technical Working Group of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to promote made in Africa Goods and Services.
The inauguration of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of AfCFTA was held at the Ministry’s Conference Room on Thursday.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, (FMARD),Dr. Ernest Umakhihe in a statement, saidl that the inauguration of the Technical Working Group of the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA) for the Agriculture and Agribusiness workstream would promote made in Africa Goods and Services.
He said that the initiative will create a single continental market as well as reduce tariff and the application of non- tariff barriers to trade among African Countries.
He also stated that AfCFTA agreement would be the largest trade and investment block agreement since the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), adding that ‘’these opportunities will boost intra African trade amongst 1.2 billion people and a cumulative GDP of $3.4 Trillion. Of a particular note, UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) envisages a potential increase in African Trade by 52% in 2022’’.
Umakhihe noted that the National Action Committee (NAC) of the AfCFTA was constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari on 20th December 2019, to coordinate inclusive implementation processes for relevant stakeholders to assess the trade readiness and expected interventions.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono is a member of the productive Sector Steering Committee for the AfCFTA, impact and readiness study while the Hon. Minister of State is serving on the Steering Committee of the NAC on AfCFTA Champion for Agriculture and the Permanent Secretary is the team lead for the Agric and Agribusiness Workstream’’.
He pledged that as a team lead of TWG, “will provide the necessary support and steer at work stream meetings and other engagement , to coordinate as needed the sectorial implementation imperatives in line with vision and mission of the ministry’’.
The Permanent Secretary further said that ‘’ the TWG which is to serve as a task team for the Agricultural sector in the AfCFTA process has become expedient to function as follows: Serve as the focal point for AfCFTA Workstream on Agriculture and Agribusiness in the Ministry, Provide secretariat and relevant input in AfCFTA on matters relating to the Agriculture sector in the AfCFTA process ,Coordinate the activities of the various sub-sectors and Value Chains in the Ministry towards achieving the set targets in the context of the AfCFTA implementation imperatives, Advocate ,track ,update document and communicate progress and status report on the subject for the ministry, among others’’.
Dr. Umakhihe charged the TWG ‘’ to maintain the highest level of dedication, efficiency and develop strategic initiatives that will ensure seamless implementation of all aspects of the AfCFTA process that concerns the sector especially ,as it relates to periodic tracking and data collection on productivity ,market access ,standards and safety of agricultural products as well as wealth and job creation’.
In a related event, the Permanent Secretary on behalf of the Minister (FMARD) received in audience the Ambassador of Argentina to Nigeria, Alejandro Herrero. The minister stressed the need for partnership and collaboration towards capacity building and strengthening of agricultural practices in the country.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of the Republic of Argentina to Nigeria, Alejandro Herrero, said that his country shares similar Agricultural practices with Nigeria especially in the livestock sub sector and expressed the importance of Signing of the Reversed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost the Agriculture sector of both countries.