Angola adopts national plan to implement African Continental Free Trade Area

The Angolan government approved a national strategy and action plan to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The plan, validated on 23 June 2026, is presented as a tool to diversify an economy where oil accounts for about 95 % of goods exports and 60 % of fiscal revenue. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rui Miguens de Oliveira described AfCFTA as the continent’s most ambitious integration project and linked it to the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The strategy prioritises strengthening domestic productive capacity, building regional value chains, and expanding market access for Angolan manufacturers, agribusinesses and service firms. It also seeks to direct benefits toward women, youth and other vulnerable groups. Implementation will involve a coordination committee, a finalised action plan and the mobilisation of technical and financial support, with assistance from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian ambassador Anderson Blanc. The AfCFTA covers a market of more than 1.3 billion people and an estimated $3.4 trillion in output, offering Angola a potential outlet for non‑oil goods.