Jean Bertrand Azapmo has over 15 years of professional experience in trade policy formulation, negotiations and implementation in Africa and the Pacific regions. Mr. Azapmo is a strong advocate of regional integration as a means to foster developing countries competitiveness and integration in the global trading system. He provided strategic trade and legal advice for the negotiations of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and is currently supporting the development and implementation of supportive policies and institutions for its operationalization. In this regard, he is coordinating the establishment of the African Trade Observatory, the development of the AU Digital Trade and Digital Economy Development Strategy, the Stakeholder’s Engagement as well as the intra-African trade promotion programs.

He is also supporting the consolidation of the Pan-African Private Sector Trade and Investment Policy Committee. Prior to joining the AU Commission in 2017, Mr. Azapmo served as a National Trade Adviser to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia in the Pacific region, where he provided strategic advice on national trade policy and trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand, the European Union and the United States of America. He played a key role in the negotiations for the Treaty Establishing the Micronesian Trade and Economic Community concluded in 2014 and was also a Member of the Working Group on the formation of an integrated market in the Asia and Pacific region. Between 2004 and 2008, Mr. Azapmo was Research Assistant in the Ministry of External relations of Cameroon, where he focused on trade negotiations and good governance issues. Mr. Azapmo holds a Master in International Trade and Investment Law from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa; a Postgraduate Diploma in Diplomacy from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon and a Master in Regional Law from the University of Dschang Cameroon.