Egypt chaired the fourth Ministerial Retreat of the Council of Ministers of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on Monday, with Minister of Investment Hassan El-Khatib urging member states to accelerate the creation of a unified African market. The meeting in Cairo brought together AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, trade ministers, and senior officials from across the continent to address outstanding issues on rules of origin – a key pillar for industrial integration and regional value chain development. El-Khatib said discussions would also focus on adapting to global geopolitical and economic shifts, while stressing the role of digital transformation and electronic payment systems in boosting intra-African trade and attracting investment. He reaffirmed Egypt's commitment, as current chair of the AfCFTA ministerial council, to advancing economic integration and building a resilient and competitive African economy. El-Khatib expressed confidence that the retreat would yield "practical steps" to accelerate AfCFTA's implementation, describing the outcomes as a step toward a unified market reflecting the ambitions of Africa's 1.4 billion people. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
