The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has taken a significant step toward strengthening global partnerships following a high-level engagement in Ottawa with senior officials of Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
The meeting, held during an official visit to Canada at the invitation of the Canadian government, brought together Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, and the GAC Branches Management team. It provided a platform for strategic dialogue on expanding institutional collaboration and aligning shared priorities as Africa’s flagship trade agreement moves into its critical implementation phase.
At the center of discussions was the growing importance of Africa in the evolving global economy and the role of AfCFTA in unlocking the continent’s trade and industrial potential. Both sides explored avenues to strengthen economic relations between Africa and Canada, with a focus on practical cooperation that delivers measurable outcomes.
Key areas of interest include industrialization, value chain development, and digital trade sectors, widely seen as essential to Africa’s long-term competitiveness. The talks also emphasized the need to promote inclusive growth by expanding opportunities for women and youth within the AfCFTA framework.
The engagement further highlighted the importance of partnerships between African institutions and international stakeholders in advancing intra-African trade. With AfCFTA aiming to create a single continental market of over 1.3 billion people, collaboration with global partners remains critical to building capacity, mobilizing investment, and supporting policy implementation.
Mr Mene underscored the Secretariat’s commitment to translating policy frameworks into actionable programmes that can drive real economic transformation across the continent. He noted that partnerships such as those with Canada are vital in ensuring that AfCFTA delivers tangible benefits for African businesses and citizens.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of a shared commitment to Africa’s economic integration agenda, anchored in coordinated action and sustained cooperation under the AfCFTA framework.
As the AfCFTA continues to gain momentum, engagements like the Ottawa meeting signal growing international confidence in Africa’s trade future and the Secretariat’s role in shaping a more integrated and resilient continental economy.
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