Intra-African trade: ivorian’s private sector adopts a AfCTA strategy

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[ACCI-CAVIE] The Ivorian private sector’s African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) strategy aims to equip the sector with the capacity to conquer African markets and seize the opportunities created by the implementation of the AfCFTA, according to Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Trade and Industry. He was chairing a workshop in Abidjan-Plateau to validate the Ivorian private sector’s strategy.
“The AfCFTA strategy for the Ivorian private sector is an innovative and inclusive approach. This specific private sector strategy, which is consistent with the national strategy, will enable greater involvement and ensure that the needs of the private sector are fully taken into account”.
According to the Minister, the AfCFTA strategy for the Ivorian private sector covers the period 2024-2028 and is based on three pillars. These are “improving the governance of the players through better synergy of actions between the Administration and the Private Sector, supporting the private sector in conquering the AfCFTA market, and strengthening the capacities of the private sector to cope with the adverse effects of the opening up of markets”.

He noted that the strategy had been developed through an inclusive and participatory process that took into account proposals from all stakeholders, including the public administration, the employers’ association (CGECI), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SME umbrella organisations (FIPME), the federation of young entrepreneurs, women’s organisations in the trade sector, transport operators’ organisations and technical and financial partners.
Constance Bossé, representing the AfCFTA continental secretariat based in Ghana, pointed out that this strategy is an instrument for developing exports, but also for optimising imports within the framework of the vast market that will eventually be opened up, comprising 55 countries and a population estimated at 1.4 billion consumers.
The first vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Zoumana Coulibaly, representing Mr Faman Touré, said that “such an inclusive strategy will enable the Ivorian private sector to be better prepared for the second phase of the guided trade initiative and to meet all future challenges”.
The FTAA was created on 21 March 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, and has been in force since 1 January 2021.

By AB