Time is ripe for India to explore trade deal with AfCFTA: Commerce Secy

AfCFTA brings together the 55 countries of the African Union and eight regional economic communities to create a single market for the continent

With the signing of the world’s largest  free trade area–African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)--the time is right for India to explore a trade with the union, commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyan said on Wednesday.

“The African Continental FTA came into force in January last year. I know it's early years, a lot of it has to get operationalized, I think the time has come for India and Africa to also start talking about engaging in a comprehensive economic partnership or a free trade agreement,” Subrahmanyan said at the 17th CII-Exim Bank conclave.

“Officials (from India) will be engaging with some