The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has called on African leaders to finalize on the critical areas of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AFCFTA, for the agreement to be successful and make meaningful impact.
According to the President of the chamber, Mrs Toki Mabogunje, this would stimulate economic growth through linkage opportunities in trade, commerce, and industry to generate job opportunities, and help to facilitate the economic diversification of African economies.
Mabogunje stated this during the Africa Day event, tagged ” the Africa Hall Initiative ” at the ongoing Lagos International trade fair organised by the Chamber.
She lauded the take-off of the AfCFTA noting that “the agreement is confirmed to be a super catalyst for boosting intra-African trade but some critical issues must be resolved.”
“…Key issues including schedules of tariff concessions, schedules of service commitment, rules of origin, investment, competition policy, and intellectual property rights have not been concluded”, she said.
This year’s theme for the Africa Day event is, “Boosting Intra-African trade.
The Africa Hall Initiative, introduced in 2019, is a platform at the Lagos International Trade Fair that connects buyers and exhibitors from all over Africa, to exhibit their products, services, arts and crafts to the rest of the world.
Bilkisu Pai
