Costantinos said with Ethiopia's industrial ambitions and that of other African nations constrained by lack of significant regional economic integration, AfCFTA can be one way to promote regional economic integration. Already, Ethiopia is undertaking road, rail, energy and air travel infrastructure projects to boost economic integration efforts with neighboring countries. While Ethiopia is looking to the immediate future of using AfCFTA to deepen regional economic integration, the AU is aiming for AfCFTA to become a catalyst for larger economic integration in the whole of Africa. AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry Albert Muchanga recently said the AfCFTA operations will bring continental economic integration dreams into reality. In March 2018, African countries signed an agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area in Kigali, Rwanda.

Source: Ethiopian News April 16, 2019 13:30 UTC