Date: Friday, April 12, 2024
Time: 10:00 am (Cameroon time)
Venue: Muna Foundation, Yaoundé

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1. Background

In June 2019,  the President of the Republic, mandated by the National Assembly and the Senate of Cameroon, ratified the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. On October 1, 2019, Decree No. 2019/586 ratifying the agreement was signed by the Head of State and published. Since then, Cameroon has been actively working on the implementation of this initiative. The country developed a national plan for the implementation of this agreement in 2019 and has established a national secretariat to facilitate this process. Indeed, ratifying this agreement represents a significant opportunity for Cameroon to strengthen its economy, increase trade, and promote regional integration. This initiative will also create significant opportunities for economic growth and development across the African continent. As a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Cameroon stands to benefit from the removal of trade barriers and the facilitation of intra-African trade. However, the successful implementation of the AfCFTA in Cameroon requires a deep understanding of the roles and responsibilities of both the public and private sectors. It is crucial to assess who is better positioned to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA in Cameroon. With this in mind, the Nkafu Policy Institute, a think tank of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation, is organizing a panel discussion on “Making the Most of the African Continental Free Trade Area through Public-Private Partnerships in Cameroon.” Bringing together policy-makers, researchers, think tanks, and practitioners from Cameroon and beyond. The panel will explore the potential contributions and challenges faced by each sector in accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA in Cameroon.

2. Objectives

The objective of this panel discussion is to critically examine the roles of the public and private sectors in accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA in Cameroon. By bringing together key stakeholders from both sectors, this discussion aims to:

• Provide a comprehensive understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the public and private sectors in the implementation of the AfCFTA,
• Promote dialogue and collaboration between the public and private sectors to identify strategies for effective coordination and partnership,
• Examine the challenges and obstacles that may impede the smooth implementation of the AfCFTA and analyze potential solutions,
• Provide recommendations for fruitful public-private partnerships in Cameroon in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

3. Target audience

The target audience for this event includes; government officials, private sector organizations, representatives of commercial institutions, civil societies, diplomats, international organizations, academia, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, business incubators, start-ups and the media.

4. Expected outcome of the event

Inspire a collaborative approach between the private and public sectors to harness the potential of the AfCFTA for Cameroon’s economic transformation.

5. Contact details

Email: [email protected] / Tel: (+237) 654 86 72 54