Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


African Leaders Meet to Push Forward Free-Trade Deal

James Butty

   Officials are gathering in Niger's capital this weekend for an African
   Union summit that begins the "operational phase" of a long-sought
   continental free trade zone.

   Some 50 heads of state were to arrive in Niamey on Friday, a day behind
   their foreign ministers, for Sunday's summit on the African Continental
   Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By integrating economies and reducing trade
   barriers such as tariffs, the pact aims to increase employment
   prospects, living standards and opportunities for the continent's 1.2
   billion people and to make Africans more competitive regionally and
   globally.

.