Press Release
African Union Commissioner Discusses Partnership with Japan on Trade and Industry Issues
Both
parties expressed appreciation for the very good relationship that
exists between the AUC and Japan. Commissioner Acyl further thanked
Japan for its continuous support to Africa within the framework of TICAD
as well as through the World Trade Organisation on trade issues and
through the World Customs Organisation on Customs issues.
Conscious
of the challenges involved as compared to ASEAN, the Japanese
Ambassador was particularly interested in the Department’s prospects on
boosting intra-African trade and in the ambitious project of
establishing a Continental Free Trade Area by the indicative date of
2017. He also highlighted the importance of adding value to Africa’s raw
materials through the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa
(AIDA) and enquired about AU’s expectations from Japan in facilitating
its implementation.
Commissioner
Acyl emphasized the political will expressed by African leaders in
dedicating the two Summits of 2012 to boosting intra-African trade and
establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area, and by the creation of
a High Level African Trade Committee composed of Heads of State and
Government to champion the implementation of decisions taken in those
areas. She then shared with the Ambassador the activities being carried
out by the Department in pursuing that mandate, especially the
formulation of an Implementation Strategy for concrete action at
national, regional and continental levels. She also briefed the
Ambassador on the resource mobilization strategy envisaged by the
Department for the implementation of AIDA, including the sustainability
of the Investment Monitoring Platform, a very useful web-based tool for
potential investors in Africa, the pilot project of which has been
funded by the European Union.
Both
parties then discussed preparations for TICAD V which include elements
directly related to trade such as trade facilitation and others that are
cross-cutting with trade. Japan encouraged the AUC to play a role of
policy leadership and to use the opportunity of the TICAD Forum to
advocate with Member States on continental issues. Both parties agreed
to meet again to discuss concrete projects.
