Chairman of the African Union (AU) and Rwandan President Paul Kagame (L), President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou (C) and Chairperson of AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat (R) unveils a plaque of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Kigali, Rwanda on March 21, 2018. (Xinhua/Gabriel Dusabe)

ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Encouraging progress has been gained with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), senior officials of the African Union (AU) said.

As the regional body drives efforts toward realizing the AfCFTA, AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry Albert M. Muchanga told Xinhua on Friday that major efforts are are underway to achieve an integrated African market of more than 1.2 billion people.

A total of 49 of the AU's 55 member states have signed the AfCFTA agreement, and 13 countries have ratified it, while 12 others are in advanced stages of obtaining parliamentary approval for ratification, according to AU.

A minimum of 22 ratifications are required for the AfCFTA to come into force.

With a single African market, the AU commissioner said, the continent will be able to better promote infrastructure development and investment in the manufacturing sector.

Currently, 42 percent of intra-African trade is made up of manufactured goods.

Stressing that industrialization and infrastructure are at the core of the AfCFTA, AU Director for Trade and Industry Treasure T. Maphanga told Xinhua that the AfCFTA also brings better opportunities to partners outside the continent.

"It is really a moment where, I think, a lot is possible. For us, the AfCFTA is a win-win. It is good for Africa; it is good for our partners," she added.