In a statement to the press on the occasion of the organization in Abuja of the 5th Symposium of the African Union on Special Economic Zones and Green Industrialization and the 7th edition of the annual meeting of the African Economic Zones Organization (AEZO), Okon Umana also wished to congratulate the initiators of this event, namely the Kingdom of Morocco and particularly Tanger Med Group which has provided the necessary conditions and cooperation.
He also welcomed the holding of the 7th edition of the annual meeting of AEZO in Nigeria, adding that AEZO is an institution that provides a platform for exchange and sharing to have an increase in intra-African trade and also attract more foreign direct investment (FDI).
On the process of activating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the minister said that “Nigeria has signed the agreement and it is certainly something new that will take time to be realized.
“This is an ongoing process, we are looking for a free trade agreement that will develop trade, in general, and intra-African trade, in particular,” he stressed.
Organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and AEZO, the dual event is being held from December 1 to 2 under the theme “African Special Economic Zones: Engine of Resilience and Accelerator of Sustainable Development of Industrial Value Chains”.
AEZO is a continental association representing the main public and private institutions in charge of the development, management and promotion of economic zones in Africa.
Founded in November 2015 by Tanger Med Group-Morocco, AEZO works to support African economic zone projects and strengthen relationships within its ecosystem. It has 82 members representing 42 countries.
