Free trade as a driver of Africa’s economic integration?

In cooperation with the Austrian Foundation for Development Research ((ÖFSE) and the Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation ((VIDC)

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is Africa’s most ambitious economic integration project. The political ambitions are high: the AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade, facilitate regional value chains, promote industrialisation, and strengthen the continent’s position in the global economy. Considerable progress has been made since the Agreement entered into force in 2019, particularly in establishing its political, legal and institutional framework. However, translating the AfCFTA’s political vision into tangible economic outcomes remains a complex undertaking. Successful implementation goes beyond tariff reductions and requires improvements in trade facilitation, customs procedures, transport and logistics, access to finance, regulatory cooperation, common standards and productive capacities. This event will discuss the current state of the AfCFTA, the challenges of its implementation, and what is needed to boost investment, industrialisation and employment in Africa whilst ensuring that the benefits of integration are shared across countries, regions, businesses and different sections of the population.
Following the discussion, guests are warmly invited to join us for a closing reception.

Keynote Speech: "The AfCFTA as a driver of trade, production and employment: strategic considerations" by

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area and former South African representative to the World Trade Organisation

Followed by a panel featuring:

Cynthia E. Gnassingbe – Essonam, Director for Private Sector Engagement and Communications, Office of the Secretary-General, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat

Leena Koni Hoffmann, Associate Fellow in the Africa Programme at Chatham House, UK; member of the International Council of Transparency International

Presenters:

Miriam Mona Mukalazi heads the Africa Policy Programme at the Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC)

Bernhard Tröster, Senior Researcher at the Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE)