TFTA pact in ratification phase
Ministry of Industry and Trade has said the recently signed Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) pact is still under ratification exercise two months after the agreement was signed in Egypt.
When asked on the progress Malawi has made since the TFTA pact was signed in June this year, the ministry’s spokesperson, Wiskes Nkombezi, said government has since set up a tripartite task force to spearhead its implementation.
“Our areas of interest are industrial development and production enhancement and once the task force has come up with their findings, we will submit them to the right authorities,” he said.
“We have been conducting awareness meetings with stakeholders on the same so that Malawians should familiarise themselves with the pact.”
During the signing of the agreement in June, chairperson of TFTA task force, SindisoNgwenya, called on countries that have signed the trade agreement to implement the accord and not just sign on paper.
“Some member States have not completely liberalised free movement of business persons. This would require governments’ commitment,” said Ngwenya, who is also Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) secretary general.
