The ceremony was led by the Prime Minister, H.E. Maria Benvinda Levi, with the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, serving as Guest of Honour. In his address, the Secretary General highlighted the importance of this development in boosting intra-African trade and fostering deeper regional economic integration.

The AfCFTA Secretariat commended the Government of Mozambique for its commitment to the objectives of the AfCFTA Agreement and reaffirmed its continued support to State Parties in promoting the movement of goods across the continent.

The Secretary General met separately with Hon. Basílio Muhate, Minister of Economy, and Mr. Lourenço Bulha, Governor of Sofala Province. These discussions formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation in advancing Mozambique’s participation in the AfCFTA.

The visit underscores the collective commitment to boosting intra-African trade and deepening regional economic integration, in line with the objectives of the AfCFTA Agreement.

During the meeting, H.E. Mene expressed his appreciation for Djibouti’s strategic role as a major logistics hub in the region and acknowledged the important leadership the country can play in advancing the objectives of the AfCFTA.

H.E. Mene also briefed the President on the current status of AfCFTA implementation, noting that 49 countries have ratified the Agreement along with its protocols.

President Guelleh congratulated the Secretary-General for the progress achieved and emphasised the importance of facilitating the free movement of people across the Continent as a key component of Africa’s integration agenda.

Opening the Conference on behalf of the President, H.E. Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti, reaffirmed Djibouti’s commitment to supporting Africa’s economic transformation through the AfCFTA. He emphasised that Djibouti’s strategic location must serve Africa’s broader vision of prosperity, with Special Economic Zones acting as engines of opportunity and growth.

In his address, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, underlined the strategic importance of SEZs, stating:“The AfCFTA is Africa’s response to global trade fragmentation. Special Economic Zones are not just policy instruments. They are practical tools for investment, innovation and resilience. If aligned with the AfCFTA, they can unlock unprecedented growth across the continent.”

The opening ceremony also featured remarks by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, who highlighted Djibouti’s role as a gateway linking Africa to global markets and an example of effective integration between infrastructure, policy and trade vision.

A key highlight of the day was the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding between the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Djibouti, the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce, and the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority. The MoUs are aimed at deepening cooperation and positioning SEZs as critical drivers of intra-African trade.

The Council considered key reports presented by the Secretary-General, the Committee of Senior Trade Officials, the Dispute Settlement Body, Heads of Customs, and Competition Authorities. Ministers also held deliberations on recent developments in the global trade environment, notably the imposition of unilateral tariffs by the United States, and their potential implications for African economies. The outcomes of the meeting provided strategic direction for advancing the implementation of the AfCFTA and for strengthening Africa’s collective position in global trade dynamics.

In his intervention, the Secretary General emphasised that Africa’s economic transformation is fundamentally dependent on investment in human capital. He highlighted that the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol is a key instrument in building a technology-driven economy anchored on skills, innovation, and knowledge.

He further underlined that industrialisation, the development of regional value chains, and job creation all require a skilled and mobile workforce. Human capital, he stressed, is the cornerstone for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the continent.

During the discussion, the Secretary General underscored the strong political commitment of African nations, evidenced by the rapid ratification of the AfCFTA Agreement. He highlighted that this collective action marks a significant step towards deepening continental integration. The Secretary General also noted the substantial progress achieved to date, including the adoption of the Protocol on Digital Trade, a pivotal instrument that is poised to unlock the potential of Africa’s digital economy, expand intra-African trade, and drive sustainable economic growth across the continent.

The AfCFTA Secretariat remains committed to advancing Africa’s integration agenda through the effective implementation of the Agreement and its supporting instruments.

The meeting focused on advancing the implementation of the AfCFTA Investment Protocol. Discussions highlighted the importance of capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, and enhancing investment promotion frameworks to create a more competitive and coherent business climate across the continent. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging the AfCFTA to unlock greater investment flows and foster sustainable economic growth.

The discussion focused on launching a joint pilot initiative to support African Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), with the aim of building institutional capacity and generating a robust pipeline of bankable projects. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging the AfCFTA as a platform to attract strategic investments and deepen economic integration in Africa.

The discussion focused on the urgent need to harness the economies of scale offered by the AfCFTA to drive investment in Africa’s pharmaceutical and vaccine production capacity. Both parties reaffirmed the importance of coordinated trade and industrial strategies to build a resilient, self-reliant health sector across the continent.