The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), is convening an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) in Douala, Cameroon, from 20 to 22 June 2024, to review the eleventh draft edition of the flagship report on Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA-11) under the theme “Delivering on the African Economic Community: Towards a Continental Customs Union and Common Market”.

Since the late 1950s, regional integration has been a cornerstone of Africa’s development, aimed at overcoming the fragmented markets inherited from the colonial era. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), adopted in 2018 as part of Agenda 2063, is a key initiative to accelerate Africa’s economic integration. While the AfCFTA represents a significant departure from the roadmap outlined in the Abuja Treaty, it facilitates the realisation of its core objectives, including the establishment of a continental customs union and common market.

 (Press release)