Swazi Observer

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ESWATINI POISED FOR EXPORTS BEYOND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

By Nomfanelo Maziya | 2024-04-30

The African Free Continental Trade Area is set to revolutionise trade for Eswatini businesses with the ministry of commerce, industry and trade continuing to increase their reach to countries in west and North Africa, including those above Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, the recently-launched AfCFTA Implementation strategy outlines a roadmap to maximise Eswatini’s participation in the historic initiative, ‘targeting a substantial 10 per cent annual increase in regional exports.

He said the AfCFTA aimed to breathe new life into Africa economic integration by focusing on diversified and value added goods to stimulate investment and innovation within African countries.

It presents a market size of 13 billion people in 54 countries with a combined GDP of US$3.4 trillion.

“The ministry is therefore informing all exporting companies that they can now export under the AfCFTA following the launch of the start date by all SACU countries as of January 31,” said Khumalo.

He emphasised that the ministry would continue to increase their reach to countries in west and North Africa, including those above Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Currently, most of Eswatini exports to Africa are destined to countries in Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),” said Khumalo.

The AfCFTA preferences are opening up new market access opportunities in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), East African Community (EAC) as well as countries above Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the minister.

Required
He advised businesses to take advantage of preferences.
“Exporters are required to apply and register with the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) to be granted a certificate of origin (COO), a custom document that confers that products are originating from Eswatini and are eligible for preferences,” said Khumalo.

The minister further announced that at the end of May, the AfCFTA Secretariat will be visiting Eswatini to engage with traders on the benefits of exporting under the AfCFTA.
Markets to be opened by AfCFTA

Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
Members: Cameron, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic
Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS)

Members: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’lvoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, mali, Niger. Nigeria, Senegal. Sierra Leone.
East African Community

Members: DR Congo, Somalia, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania.
Countries above Sub-Saharan Africa
Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco.

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