Click to access the Corporate Africa AfCFTA Infrastructure Integration Report
In addition to establishing a business-to-business and a business-to-government exchange platform for business deals and advisory services, IATF2021 will also operate a Virtual Trade Fair on an interactive online platform accessible to all. It will also focus on Africa’s creative economy as well as the automotive industry with dedicated programs. A Conference will run alongside the exhibition and will feature high-profile speakers and panelists addressing topical issues relating to trade finance, payments, trade facilitation, and trade-enabling infrastructure, harmonization of trade standards, industrialization, regional value chains and investment. To register as a delegate or as an exhibitor for IATF2021 please visit: www.intrafricantradefair.com
[media-credit id=1 align=”aligncenter” width=”297″]
[/media-credit]
“For years we have been trading in silos, but economies of scale mean a larger market is open for business and industries can produce and trade more, with a competitive advantage, which is what AfCFTA stands to provide. Rwanda has prioritized energy development as a sector for example.” Antoine Kajangwe, Director General of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Trade and Industry of Rwanda
[media-credit id=1 align=”aligncenter” width=”297″]
[/media-credit]
“It enables an opening up of the African continent so rather than merely trading with West Africa, ECOWAS, we are doing so with other parts of Africa.” Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Export Promotion Authority
[media-credit id=1 align=”aligncenter” width=”297″]
[/media-credit]
Said it was important to participate in the IATF before the regional integration of the AfCFTA. He spoke about helping SMEs and forging an agreement with ITC and Afreximbank, Nigerian and Rwandan export boards, on dealing with AfCFTA, export readiness, market research, export development, risk management and skills and helping cocoa producers in Cote D’Ivoire. Guy M’Bengue, Chief Executive Officer, Cote D’Ivoire, Exports Promotion Agency
[media-credit id=1 align=”aligncenter” width=”297″]
[/media-credit]
“IATF unified fragmented and disjointed African economies, still surviving the brunt of the colonial economic system, bringing them closer to each other and asking the private sector to increase trade once they grasp the opportunities in other parts of Africa. The IATF is something that will not only help the continent recover from the pandemic, but address the structural impediments holding the continent back and achieve structural transformation” Jean Bertrand Azapmo, Principal Adviser to the AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry Department of Trade and Industry, African Union Commission
[media-credit id=1 align=”aligncenter” width=”297″]
[/media-credit]
“Firstly, intra-African trade, which we need to increase significantly, as it hovers at only 16 per cent. Secondly a huge desire to work with our sister countries around the continent to promote industrialization. Thirdly, we also have to invest in our infrastructure as we are often better connected with markets worldwide that with each other in terms of logistics and supply chains, would like to invite countries to begin that conversation. Africa needed to start looking at import substitution and producing goods locally. In terms of preferential procurement. African countries spend $400 billion annually on construction projects paying foreign companies to do business in Africa. We need to develop value chains, e.g. we import tyres, but West Africa produces rubber, so we need to add value by manufacturing our raw materials, including making PPE.” John Rocha, Chief Director, Trade Invest Africa, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
Click to access the Corporate Africa AfCFTA Infrastructure Integration Report