Ethiopia Plans African Trade Policy Centre in Addis Ababa to Boost AfCFTA Role

November 4, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

Ethiopia plans to establish an African regional integration centre in Addis Ababa to train trade policy specialists and negotiators, as the country seeks to strengthen its participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The initiative forms part of two cooperation agreements signed by the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, France's Expertise France and Addis Ababa University, with financial support from the European Union.

The proposed African Regional Integration Centre (ARIC) will introduce postgraduate programmes for trade policy and negotiation specialists, organise regular policy discussions and conduct research on continental economic integration.

Trade and Regional Integration Minister Yasmin Wahabrebbi said the initiative would help translate Ethiopia's national AfCFTA implementation strategy into practical results by strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of both public agencies and the private sector.

She said Ethiopia needed to connect its domestic economic reform programme and trade integration ambitions with stronger institutions and a skilled workforce.

The minister added that the initiative would support export growth and complement the country's ongoing efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Ethiopia has already developed a national AfCFTA implementation strategy and begun trading under the continental framework. However, building the capacity to negotiate trade arrangements, meet market requirements and enable businesses to access new markets remains important to its ability to benefit from the agreement.

The proposed centre is expected to position Addis Ababa as a research and knowledge hub for African economic integration, drawing on the city's role as the headquarters of the African Union and the continental body's Agenda 2063 development framework.

Addis Ababa University President Samuel Kifle said the university would work with the ministry to improve the country's trade system and prepare a new generation of professionals for the demands of continental trade.

Jean-Baptiste, Ethiopia director of Expertise France, described the agreements as a commitment to strengthening Ethiopia's participation in the AfCFTA rather than a routine institutional partnership.

The EU-supported project will also focus on strengthening trade institutions, developing regional value chains and supporting economic diversification.

Other priorities include improving public-private sector dialogue, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly women-led businesses, and expanding academic research and professional training.

The agreements come as African countries seek to operationalise the AfCFTA, which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services and facilitate trade among its 54 participating countries.

Source: FSX Business News