Will Africa’s historic free trade agreement succeed?
Al Jazeera | 6 April 2019
Will Africa’s historic free trade agreement succeed?
The World Bank ranks many countries in Africa among the hardest places to do business.
However, an ambitious project to ease trade between them is a step closer to reality.
The African Union agreed last year to create a free trade zone on the continent, the largest since the World Trade Organization was formed.
On Tuesday, The Gambia became the 22nd country to ratify the accord, reaching the threshold for it to be implemented.
It’s hoped the deal will reduce tariffs and trade rules, and create jobs for a market of 1.2 billion people.
But Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, isn’t on board with the agreement.
So, will the deal succeed?
Presenter: Martine Dennis
Guests:
Aly-Khan Satchu - CEO of Rich Management and an emerging markets economist
Stephen Yeboah - cofounder of Commodity Monitor
Olusegun Okubanjo - founder and managing partner of finance firm OBSIDIAN
