Nigeria, Others To Get Standard Labels For Made-In-Africa Goods
The African Economic Commission Development (AECD) has disclosed that the continent was planning to roll out Made-in- Africa goods standards for Africans to improve intra-trade market and boost the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Commissioner of Economic Commission Development (ECD), Industry, Trade and Mining, Albert Muchanga, disclosed during an AfCFTA webinar in Cairo, Egypt, where he stated that ministers of industry, trade and investment on the continent have approved to present a draft on African private sector policy that would see the birth for the criteria on Made-in-Africa goods, in line with the continental trade agreement.
Muchanga said that the Made-In- Africa goods standard would remove the abnormalities and barriers to trade in the continent that had been an impediment to trade growth and GDP.
The African ECD commissioner noted that the continent’s ministers of industry, trade and investment have approved that each country in the continent would be given the liberty to to meet the criteria and standardisation to use the labels ‘Made-in-Africa’ for its manufactured goods that were expected to be traded in the continent.
According to him, the proposed Made-in-Africa standards would mean that the goods and services produced in each country would find it much easier to move within African countries seamlessly to boost trade facilitation in the continent.
He explained that the Made-in- Africa goods would enable the continent’s market to be competitive and attractive.
Muchanga said: “As we engage with each other, it is partners in progress. And we should know that we are running in a very competitive market, so, in this session of permanent representative committees, we are going to present the draft on African private sector policy. So, it is no longer going to be delayed because the ministers of industry, trade and investment in the continent approved it. It’s going to be assembled for prompt trade.
“Within a year, we are going to come out with the criteria for Made-in-Africa goods standards. For each one of you who will be able to make the criteria and use the label, it is going to be very very competitive and will elevate you to a very competitive market.
“Another area we are going to be with you the private sector is to promote the development of regional and continental market across Africa.
One AU aim is a stake in AfCFTA. Each African country must be an exporter of complete finished or intermediate goods across Africa. When AfCFTA works, everybody must win. Nobody must be left behind. “With this spirit, I say let’s work with the zeal, let’s work with the determination and let’s work with the passion. As we move ahead, as pioneer, as innovators and as explorers in a new market that is now called AfCFTA, “we shall succeed; nothing is going to stop us. Let us celebrate with a passion that the power to transform Africa is in our hands.”
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