The African Union Chairman and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called for an African Union protocol on women to enable female inclusion in Africa’s economy, as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goes into implementation next year.
Mr. Ramaphosa stated this at the virtual extra-ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) on Sunday to discuss the implementation of the AfCFTA.
READ: AfCFTA delay: A bane to Africa’s $3.4 trillion economic bloc
The AU leaders called on a treaty to boost female inclusion and small-scale enterprises to trade across borders, as the agreement goes into place. Ramaphosa added that the deal is important, as AfCFTA would see Africa trading with itself and harnessing its economic prowess.
“The treaty would improve Africa as an investment destination and a market of more than one billion people. This treaty (AfCFTA) is more critical than ever. It will expand the productive capacity of countries,” Ramaphosa said.
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“To support this treaty, we must strengthen the place of women in the economy. We should consider an AU protocol on women. This kind of protocol would be a catalyst to private enterprise in Africa,” he added.
Ramaphosa disclosed that the AfCFTA is also a developmental approach for Africa, as it would enable infrastructure growth to boost value chains in Africa.
READ: AfCFTA: African Customs Officials to draft free trade continental guidelines
“At its core is a developmental approach. It goes to the building of an infrastructure and a value chain for Africa. The AfCFTA brings the promise of a new beginning. We reaffirm our optimism. The AfCFTA would help realize these opportunities by attracting more trade and more investment into Africa.”
READ: AfCFTA: Focus on manufacturing will boost diversification goals – FG
What you should know About Nigeria and the AfCFTA
- Nairametrics reported that Nigeria became the 34th African country to fully ratify and submit its Instrument of Ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- President Muhammadu Buhari said the commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in January 2021 would fulfil the dreams of post-colonial African founders for a prosperous and united Africa through the continental integration of goods, services, and people.
- According to PwC, the share of females in the total employment figure for Nigeria has marginally increased.
- “In 2019, about 51% of females were employed among the total female labour force, compared to 59.8% of males (as a proportion of the total male labour force),” PwC disclosed.
- The IMF states that in sub-Saharan Africa, only 37 percent of women have bank accounts, compared to 48 percent of men – a gap that has only widened over the last few years.
READ: COVID-19: Over 70% of jobs lost in aviation, tourism industries in 2020 – AfDB
