We are
meeting today to close the inaugural commemoration of the African Integration
Day, which began on 1 July 2020. It is
a Day on which we reflect on and celebrate our achievements in bringing African
economies and peoples closer together, in conformity with our motto of Africa
speaking with one voice and acting in unison. In so doing, we also assess the
progress made so far in the implementation of the Agenda 2063 of
the African Union, with its vision of establishing the Africa we want, through
the realisation of "an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, led by
its own citizens and representing a dynamic force on the international
scene".
The
road to African integration began long ago and has witnessed some important
milestones. It dates back to 1963 with the inception of the Organisation of
African Unity, when our predecessors called for the establishment of the
African Common Market. Continental economic integration was, therefore, a key
objective of the post-colonial period. This led to the setting up of the
Regional Economic Communities and, later, to the Lagos Plan of Action for the
Economic Development of Africa for the period 1980-2000, whose main objective
was to galvanise the spirit of collective self-reliance. The Lagos Plan of
Action was the springboard for the negotiation of the Treaty establishing the
African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty) signed in 1991 and is the legal basis
and vision for the economic integration programme of Africa. The Abuja Treaty
entered into force on 12 May 1994 with a gradual approach towards the African
Economic Community, whose first phase was to use the Regional Economic
Communities as pillars.
At this
historical moment, the Abuja Treaty has ushered in the African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA), one of the flagship projects of the Agenda 2063 of
the African Union. On 21 March 2018, the Agreement establishing the AfCFTA was
concluded and signed in Kigali, Rwanda. Another important milestone was reached
on 30 May 2019, when the Agreement entered into force.
The
entry into force of the AfCFTA Agreement was historical, opening a new
development vista for our Continent. To date, 54 countries have signed the
Agreement and 28 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification
with the African Union Commission. Africans from all walks of life should be
very proud of this unprecedented achievement, which makes Africa the land of
opportunities and promises.
By
establishing this market of 1.27 billion people, we are also defragmenting
Africa to put behind us the history of small uncompetitive markets that have
thwarted our efforts to achieve inclusive sustainable development for the
benefit of our peoples. This important and inclusive market will now position
us to attract increased trade and investment and, in so doing, afford
opportunities for young African entrepreneurs, women and small and large
enterprises. Their business activities should lead to the creation of decent
jobs for millions of Africans as a means of achieving widespread prosperity.
Our
commemoration of today was designed at the launch of the operational phase of
the AfCFTA in
Niamey, Niger, on 7 July 2019, when the 12th Extraordinary Session of the
Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union decided that
7 July each year be designated as the African Integration Day. This Day is to
be observed annually by all Member States, without it being a public holiday.
On this
day, Africans from the continent and from the Diaspora propose commemorative
activities to observe and celebrate the achievements of the AfCFTA in the
previous year. Aware that the fate of the AfCFTA lies in our hands, the celebration also serves to
reaffirm our unwavering commitment to continue the process of establishing the
African Economic Community as outlined in the 1991 Abuja Treaty.
The
33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, held on 9 and 10
February 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, adopted guidelines for the
commemoration of the African Integration Day and these have been widely
disseminated. Today we are also celebrating the pillars of the African Economic
Community. These are the Regional Economic Communities, which have paved the
way for economic integration in Africa at this level. Through the AfCFTA, we
are now entering uncharted territory, opening a new era of continental economic
integration. But we are convinced that the lesson learnt and the institutional
and programmatic arrangements of the Regional Economic Communities will greatly
help the AfCFTA gain
momentum as we roll out trade in this market.
As we
conclude the commemorative activities today, we look with satisfaction and
pride at the range of activities carried out and the broad participation of
African Union Member States, the private sector, academia, youths, women, the
civil society and the African diaspora through the following:
a.
Round tables and debates on historical and contemporary African
issues, such as the promotion of industrialisation and structural
transformation in Africa;
b.
Deployment of some of the main instruments that will be used in
the AfCFTA, such
as Essential Innovation Design Accelerator (EIDA); the competition for
exhibition space at the Young Enterprise Pavilion at the forthcoming 2021
Intra-African Trade Fair; the AfCFTA online Mechanism for monitoring, reporting
and removing non-tariff barriers; and, the African E-Commerce Platform.
All
these elements testify to the passion and preparation of the various
stakeholders to implement the AfCFTA. Future commemorations will be expanded to include the
following activities to be carried out at the Community, National, Regional,
Continental and International levels:
a. Exhibitions
and art competitions;
b. Commemorative
street rallies and walks;
c. Media
campaigns;
d. Supplements
in national and pan-African media;
e. Sporting
events; and
f. Culinary
festivals, music and dance.
Our
first commemoration is taking place in unusual circumstances given the Covid-19
pandemic that has affected us all in Africa and around the world. Difficult as
it is, the pandemic has inspired us to realise the potential we have to harness
and address this challenge. In this regard, we need to reconfigure alternative
supply chains in the face of the disruptions that emerged as soon as blockades and
quarantines came into play to contain the spread of the Covid-19
pandemic.
Consequently,
the pandemic challenged us to speed up our industrial development agenda,
through the establishment of Regional value and supply chains, with the active
participation of the private sector. Furthermore, the pandemic stressed the
importance of strong health systems as well as e-government, e-education,
e-diplomacy and e-commerce. Finally, the pandemic has unleashed the innovative
spirit of Africans and built resilience as evidenced by the various adjustment
measures at the community and national levels, including our use of traditional
medicines.
As we
look to the post-COVID-19 era, it is clear that the future of Africa as regards
recovery, development and resilience lies in accelerating its economic
integration through the implementation, at the level of Africa, of the AfCFTA.
The AfCFTA offers the best platform for us to build and deliver inclusive and
sustainable development by using the large market space to mobilise investment.
Within this framework, we urge all other African Union Member States to sign
and ratify the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
In
conclusion, we wish to call on all Africans, in a spirit of Pan-Africanism, to
look forward to a bright future in a gradually integrating Africa. By acting
together and in perfect harmony, we will create a better future for present and
future African generations. In this regard, let us ensure, in the coming year,
distinct achievements in the Regional Economic Communities and the AfCFTA so
that we celebrate the African Integration Day of 2021 with the
satisfaction that our economic integration agenda is producing substantial
results and benefits for all Africans.
Long live Africa! Long live the spirit of unity and integration
of the peoples of Africa!
Signed:
H. E. Mr. CYRIL M. RAMAPHOSA
President
of the Republic of South Africa
Chairperson
of the African Union
H. E. Mr. ISSOUFOU MAHAMDOU
President
of the Republic of Niger
AfCFTA Champion
H.E. Mr. MOUSSA FAKI MAHAMAT
Chairperson
of the African Union Commission
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