tralac Annual Conference 2023

Sam Smith Events 29 April 2023

Events

tralac Annual Conference 2023

What have we learned from the AfCFTA guided trade initiative?

Report

The 2023 tralac Annual Conference took place on 18-19 May 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda. Government officials, trade experts, entrepreneurs, and tralac alumni from across the continent came together to discuss matters associated with Africa’s integration and trade agenda under the theme of ‘A Practical and Realistic Agenda for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’. The Conference focused on framing the AfCFTA as a practical continent-wide preferential trade arrangement, aiming to prompt an investigation into a realistic agenda for ensuring the AfCFTA’s effectiveness in driving the continent’s development. Read the Concept note.

pdf Annual Conference Report 2023 (206 KB)

Background notes prepared ahead of the Conference covering key issues under discussion are available to download below.

Programme

Official Opening Session

Welcome: Dr George Lipimile, Chair – tralac Board

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA Secretariat

Minister of Trade and Industry, Rwanda, Dr Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze

Session 1: Keynote Addresses – A Practical and Realistic Agenda for the AfCFTA

Mr Larry Liza, Director, World Customs Organisation, East and Southern African Region Capacity Building Commissioner

Sam Shivute, Namibia Revenue Authority

Session 2: Africa in a changing global context

Changing geo-political order
Africa’s global trade relations

Chair: Justice Mary Kasango, COMESA Court of Justice

Presentations

Meeting the Challenges of Emerging Global Realities: Pathways and Opportunities for Africa - Dr Patrick Low, tralac Associate

Africa in a changing global Context - Professor Gerhard Erasmus tralac Associate

Africa and the USA/AGOA - Eckart Naumann, tralac Associate

Session 3: AfCFTA Update

Trading under the AfCFTA: From Guided Trade to a complete Free Trade Area
Investment, Competition Policy and Intellectual Property Rights
Women and Youth in Trade and Digital Trade
A Protocol on Trade and Climate?

Presentations

Update on the AfCFTA: Towards a workable integration agenda for Africa - Trudi Hartzenberg and Gerhard Erasmus

Update on the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights - Abrie du Plessis

How can the AfCFTA Promote a trade-related agenda on the Environment? - Gita Briel

Session 4: Africa’s industrialisation through value chain development

Global value chain developments: near-shoring, reshoring and friendshoring – implications for Africa’s industrialisation
A gendered analysis of Africa’s value chains
Trading under preferences to support cross-border value chains – what can the AfCFTA contribute?
Mobilising private sector investment in trade-supporting value chains

Presentations

Value Chains in Africa: Upgrading, the AfCFTA and Trade Advantage - John Stuart, tralac Associate

Unlocking the Potential of Agro-Value Chains under the AfCFTA - Taku Fundira, tralac Associate

Overcoming Constraints to Women’s Participations in Value Chains - Maria Immanuel and Gita Briel

AfCFTA Value Chain Development Initiatives - Cynthia Gnassingbe-Essonam, AfCFTA Secretariat

Session 5: Master Class: Dispute Settlement – Lessons from Cases at the Regional Courts for the AfCFTA

Dispute Settlement: Lessons from Judgments by the REC Courts - Professor Gerhard Erasmus

Session 6: Customs and border management: making the AfCFTA work

What have we learnt from the Guided Trade Initiative?
Implementing Annexes to the Protocol on Trade in Goods: Customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance, Transit, Elimination of NTBs, Trade Facilitation
Cooperation with the World Customs Organisation and Development Partners

Presentations

What have we learned from the Guided Trade Initiative of the AfCFTA - Cham Etienne Bama

Making the AfCFTA Annexes work: case of Beitbridge Border Modernization - Rwatida Mafurutu

What we need to do to make the borders work for women - Edina Moyo-Mudzingwa

Customs and Border Management: making the AfCFTA work - Wilfried Deudjui Mbouwe

Session 7: Private Sector Perspectives on the AfCFTA