Date: 24 June 2021     –     Time: 09AM     –    Venue: Mansel Hotel -Fouda (Register Here)

Background

On 1st January 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), created with a view to eventually integrate all states of the African Union into a free trade area, was effectively put in place. This continental market, which brings together several African countries, will cover a market of over 1.2 billion people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.5 trillion. In terms of the number of participating countries, the AfCFTA, at full strength, will be the world’s largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) with 53 member countries. To date, 54 of the 55 member states of the African Union have signed the Agreement, but only 36 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification, thus becoming States Parties to the Agreement. 

With this in mind and given the socioeconomic context marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nkafu Policy Institute of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation is organizing the first edition of the Nkafu Open Trade Initiative Discussion on the theme: “The African Continental Free Trade Area: Benefits, Opportunities and Challenges”. 

Objectives  

The main objective of this event is to provide a platform for high-level experts to address the requirements for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA. The discussion will center around the challenges with implementation and the benefits and opportunities of AfCFTA for African countries. Specifically, it will provide an opportunity to: 

• Examine the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area 

• Critically Assess the Agreement and its benefits to member countries 
• Outline the development implications of the AfCFTA on health, education, employment and consumption 
• Assess the appropriateness of current procedures in the implementation monitoring of the agreement. 
• Identify and propose policy recommendations to facilitate the process of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area. 

Venue and date 

The discussion is scheduled for 24th June 2021 at the Mansel Hotel in Yaoundé-Cameroon. 

Target audience 

This panel discussion will provide a forum of 50 participants (including the panel discussion) from different fields of expertise, and will enable them to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones. The audience consists of government representatives, traders, investors, academics, researchers and students, speakers, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations, civil society and public representatives etc. 

Panelists and Moderator 

Pr. Christian Zamo Akono: Associate Professor of the Faculties of Economics and Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Management (FSEG) of the University of Yaoundé II-Soa (Cameroon)

Ms Frida Basok: International Trade law and Trade Policy Expert at ECCAS Women’s Entrepreneurship Council

Landry Roland Noutchang: Director of Promotion and Cooperation at the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Crafts, Corporate director, Senior international consultant, Douala, Cameroon

Moderator: Henri Kouam