‘TFTA to be operational in 2 years’

THE Tripartite Free Trade area will be operational in the next two years as 16 out of 26 countries have signed the agreement, an official from Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has said.

Speaking at the regional sensitisation workshop for business reporters yesterday, Comesa secretariat, legal and institutional affairs division Gabriel Masuku said the signing of the agreement does not mean it has come into force.

The 16 countries that have signed include Zimbabwe and the 10 that have not signed were among others Botswana, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, Mauritius and Madagascar.

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