Enhancing Intra-Regional Trade: The Role of the African Trade Observatory
The African Trade Observatory (ATO) is a key operational tool under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), designed to serve as a comprehensive repository of trade information. It plays a crucial role in monitoring trade activity and economic integration across Africa, helping to unlock new intra-regional trade opportunities for businesses, policymakers, and trade partners.
Launched at the 12th Extraordinary African Union Summit in July 2019 in Niamey, Niger, the ATO is an initiative led by the African Union (AU) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) through its Trade and Market Intelligence (TMI) section. The ATO is set to operate over an eight-year period, concluding on 28 February 2026.
The ATO features a customized dashboard with three specialized modules:
- Compare: Enables users to assess different markets, identifying current and emerging opportunities for various products and services.
- Explore: Provides in-depth trade and market access information, allowing users to delve into the details of identified opportunities.
- Monitor: Tailored for African policymakers, this module tracks the progress of intra-African trade integration over time.
For more information on ATO, click on the following links:
Website: https://ato.africa/en/about