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International Partnerships
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InfoPoint conference: Private sector engagement under the African Continental Free Trade Area

Fostering SME’s inclusivity and Regional Value Chains

African countries have embarked on an ambitious process of integrating their markets beyond existing regional arrangements to create the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). While a trade agreement, the ambitions of the AfCFTA go far beyond raising intra-African trade, to establishing regional value chains (RVCs) and promoting continent-wide industrialisation. Beyond the reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, the AfCFTA’s success will therefore depend on a range of other factors, including its ability to encourage domestic and foreign investment to take advantage of expanded markets.

At the same time, the EU’s Global Gateway seeks to connect support to trade corridors with investments and access to critical raw materials. Against this backdrop, the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment represents an important step towards creating an environment conducive to investment within the African Continent. Nonetheless, such formal, legal mechanisms must be implemented and used to have an effect, raising questions for policymakers in Africa and their partners about how best to build on and support such mechanisms to promote the underlying goal of African economic transformation.  

  • the EU's international role | international cooperation
  • Friday 1 December 2023, 11:00 - 13:00 (CET)

Practical information

When
Friday 1 December 2023, 11:00 - 13:00 (CET)
Where
InfoPoint and Webex Meetings
Languages
English, French
Organisers
International Partnerships InfoPoint

Description