WHAT: Support to Women and Youth in Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT) to utilize Regional and Continental Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), this event will take place at the margins of the Intra-Africa Trade Fair #IATF2021

WHEN: 16 November 2021          

TIME: 15:00 – 17:00hrs SAST

WHERE: Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC), North Plaza M1 Marquee

WHO: African Union in collaboration with ECOWAS, AfCFTA, and TRALAC

KEY SPEAKERS

• H.E. Albert M. Muchanga, AU Commissioner, Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM)
• Dr Amani Asfour, African Business Council

Background information

This event will offer a platform to engage on what the AfCFTA means to Africa’s women and youth exporters and how they can be best supported to utilize opportunities in intra-African trade. It will also address the informality of regional trade which is dominated by women and youth that face significant barriers to trading across borders.

Over 70 percent of cross-border traders, especially those engaged in informal trade, are women. Understanding their needs and giving them a platform to speak is incredibly important. The youth are Africa’s largest composite of human capital. As the youngest continent, Africa needs to invest in ensuring that its youth have credible pathways to engage in productive activities so that they may reap the promise of their dreams and become architects of their own prosperity.

For further information, please contact:

Meaza Tezera , Department of Economic Development, Trade , Industry and Mining  | African Union Commission | E-mail: Meazat@africa-union,org | www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Ms. Faith Adhiambo, Communication officer, Agenda 2063 | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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