Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, 9 April 2025- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat successfully convened the 1st Meeting of the Committee of National Implementation Committee Focal Persons (NIC-FPs) from 7 to 9 April 2025 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The meeting focused on finalising the Terms of Reference and draft Work Plan for the Committee, reviewing the status of NIC establishment across State Parties, and discussing updates on national and regional AfCFTA implementation strategies. The meeting also considered a revised technical note and welcomed proposals for enhancing coordination and tracking of implementation progress. The outcomes of the meeting will be submitted to the Senior Trade Officials and the Council of Ministers.

The Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the effective operationalisation of NICs as key instruments in national-level implementation of the AfCFTA and expressed its appreciation to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo for hosting the meeting.