By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Secretariat of the
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has engaged stakeholders in South
Sudan as part of efforts to support the country's participation in the
continent’s single market and unlock greater opportunities for businesses.
A delegation from the AfCFTA
Secretariat, led by Secretary-General H.E. Wamkele Mene, visited Juba on 16
July to discuss South Sudan’s progress towards full participation in the
African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement and to engage local businesses on
opportunities presented by the agreement.
South Sudan signed the
AfCFTA Agreement in 2018, and the East African Community (EAC) tariff schedule
covering the country has already been gazetted. However, the country is yet to
begin applying the tariff schedule, with ratification identified as the next
key step towards accessing preferential trade opportunities within the
continental market.
During engagements hosted by
the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the AfCFTA delegation met with
representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, manufacturers, exporters and
women entrepreneurs to discuss practical tools and mechanisms that support
participation in intra-African trade.
Discussions focused on key
AfCFTA instruments, including the e-Tariff Book, rules of origin, the Pan-African
Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, which are
designed to help businesses navigate and benefit from the single market.
The Secretariat highlighted
the importance of enabling South Sudanese enterprises to move beyond importing
goods from other African countries and position themselves as active suppliers
within the continental trading system.
The visit forms part of the
AfCFTA Secretariat’s broader efforts to work with member states, support
implementation of the agreement and promote increased participation of
businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in Africa’s
growing intra-continental trade ecosystem.
With access to a market of
approximately 1.4 billion people, the AfCFTA presents significant opportunities
for countries such as South Sudan to expand exports, attract investment and
strengthen economic integration across Africa.
