The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, met this afternoon with the Director-General of the @wto, H.E. @NOIweala, on the sidelines of the #COP30 Leaders Summit in Belém, Brazil.

Their discussions focused on strengthening Africa’s integration into the global trading system, advancing trade-related infrastructure & addressing barriers to deeper economic integration, including limited infrastructure, high trade costs, & the need for greater diversification to add value to African exports.

H.E. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala underscored the WTO’s commitment to supporting Africa in harnessing its resources & leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand intra-African & global trade.

The Chairperson emphasised that a number African nations are moving beyond exporting raw materials towards processing & producing higher-value goods.