AfCFTA: 93 certificates of origin issued to export Tunisian products to 4 African countries

Tunis: Tunisia has so far issued 93 certificates of origin under the Agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to export chemical products, agri-foodstuffs and semi-automatic machinery to several African countries, including Cameroon, Ghana, Tanzania and Mauritius, said Director in charge of Economic and Trade Cooperation with Africa at the Ministry of Trade and Export Development Bochra Lejmi.The chemical products exported to these countries include resin, chemical fertilisers, quicklime and hydrated lime, as well as agri-food products such as cheese and mustard, she told TAP.The certificate of origin, which is considered a key factor in the effective entry into force of the agreement, will allow exporting companies to enjoy the reductions in customs duties due to be lifted from January 1, 2026.Tunisia, which joined the Guided Trade initiative launched on October 7, 2022 by the Secretariat of the AfCFTA Agreement, is one of the first 8 African countries (Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, Rwan da, Kenya, Tanzania and Mauritius) preparing to launch the AfCFTA under this initiative.The AfCFTA agreement came into force in May 2019. It was ratified by Tunisia on August 7, 2020. It is one of the African Union's (AU) flagship projects aimed at stepping up South-South cooperation for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, in line with the AU's Agenda 2063.It also aims to consolidate trade relations between the AU 55 Member States, in a market of over 300 million consumers and $3,400 billion in annual trade. The agreement aims to lift customs barriers to the free movement of goods and services between African countries.According to CEPEX data, the untapped potential in Africa is estimated at some $1.2 billion. Untapped export opportunities represent about 61% in North Africa ( $754 million), 22% in West Africa (about $270 million) and 8% in East Africa ($94 million).Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse