Experts Advance Work on 11th Edition of African Regional Integration Assessment

ADDIS ABABA: The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), convened a second expert group meeting to evaluate the draft report for the 11th Edition on Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA XI). The focus of this edition is on the development of a Continental Customs Union and Common Market as part of the African Economic Community.According to Ethiopian News Agency, the ARIA XI report aims to evaluate Africa's preparedness for establishing a customs union and common market, aligning with the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Stephen Karingi, Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division at ECA, highlighted that the next stage in Africa's integration project, as articulated in the Abuja Treaty and other legal frameworks, is the initiation of the Customs Union, followed by the African Common Market.The report acknowledges the varied progress of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in creating sub-regional customs unions and common markets. It investigates how REC experiences can lay the groundwork for the envisioned continental Customs Union and African Common Market, as outlined by the Abuja Treaty and the AfCFTA Agreement.Brian Mureverwi, Trade Advisor at the African Union Commission, expressed contentment with the draft report's progress and its significance for Africa's future trajectory and international status. He remarked on the report's analysis of conditions essential for forming a continental customs union and common market, drawing on RECs' integration efforts.Zodwa Mabuza, Principal Regional Integration Officer at AfDB, highlighted the historical impact of the ARIA series since its inception in 2004 and its influence on the integration agenda. She stressed the importance of learning from past experiences, such as those of the East African community, to formulate future strategies and enhance regional integration.The ARI A XI report intends to answer critical questions about Africa's readiness for a continental customs union and common market, their potential benefits and impacts, and the possibility of pursuing these alongside the AfCFTA implementation. The expert meeting included participants from RECs, the AUC, AfDB, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), academia, civil society, and the private sector.