Kigali, Rwanda, 17 March 2018: H.E Amb. Thomas Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), congratulated the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) on 15 March 2018 while delivering his closing remarks at the meeting of the PRC holding in the Kigali Convention Center. The address was done at the end of a day-long heated debate and exchange of views in preparation of the Tenth Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), hosted by the Republic of Rwanda on 21 March 2018.

Deputy Chairperson Kwesi Qwartey expressed satisfaction with the constructive deliberations by the members of the PRC during the meeting. He said to the Ambassadors and heads of delegations that the AfCFTA Summit is a historic moment and a milestone towards achieving the Africa we Want as it is addressing one of the Flagship Projects under Agenda 2063. He thanked the PRC members for their important role to enhance African integration and for working hand in hand with the African Union Commission to ensure the implementation by the AU Member States of the continental programs and Decisions of the AU Assembly.

The AUC Deputy Chairperson, on behalf of the AU Commission, commended the Chair of the PRC, H.E Hope Tumukunde Gasatura, who is also the Ambassador of Rwanda to Ethiopia, for the excellent way in which she chaired the meeting with the view of getting the best results to help advance the development agenda of the continent. He also lauded the efforts made by all the actors involved under the effective leadership of H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger, and the designated Champion of the Continental Free Trade Area, “thanks to whom we have arrived at this stage in terms of progress”. He underlined.

Amb. Tumukunde Gasatura, thanked the AUC Deputy Chairperson and her peers for the good collaboration and working spirit during the deliberations. The report of the PRC will be submitted for consideration and adoption to the Executive Council, meeting at their 18th Extraordinary Summit, scheduled for 19 March 2018, at the Convention Center, Kigali.

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Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, Tel: +250 78914032, / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org /