Seychelles News: National Assembly approves ratification of AfCFTA

Article Published on August 3, 2021

In June 2021, the National Assembly of Seychelles approved the ratification of the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which was initially signed in March 2018. The island is now set to join the list of official members of the AfCFTA once the President of Seychelles signs his assent and the relevant documents are sent to the depository office.

Joining the AfCFTA is deemed highly beneficial as it opens up opportunities by allowing trade of goods and services under preferential terms across the region; indeed the island will gain access to a market of 1.2 billion people and one of its key areas of interest, fisheries, is anticipated to benefit the most from this agreement.

The AfCFTA was created to bring forth a single continental market for goods and services in an effort to generate intra-Africa trade through free movement of business persons and investments.