The secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in collaboration with the Government of Zambia, hosted the inaugural edition of the AfCFTA Youth Symposium from August 21–23 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The event discussed the potential benefits and challenges of AfCFTA for youth in trade, and explored strategies for harnessing the full potential of AfCFTA for Africa’s youth.
The 3-day convening held under the theme “Igniting the Future for Youth in Trade”, was attended by young entrepreneurs, business and support organisations. It served as a youth-centric platform for Africa’s young people to engage regulators, policymakers, development partners and financial institutions on the crucial role of young people in AfCFTA.
The AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area encompassing 54 African countries and representing over 1.2 billion people. This historic trade agreement whose Secretariat is in Accra, Ghana, seeks to boost intra-African trade, promote economic growth and create employment opportunities.
Beyond that, the AfCFTA Secretariat confirmed that the symposium explored the role of young people in the larger scheme of Africa’s economic development and the challenges hindering their meaningful contribution to such development, including their participation in intra-African trade.
The Symposium explored ways of ensuring young people truly benefit from the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.
Discussions at the symposium contributed to the AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade currently negotiated, in line with the commitment of the 13th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The aim is to “broaden inclusiveness” in the implementation of the AfCFTA, and the decision of the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly to include the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade in the AfCFTA.
Recall that the AU theme for 2023 is “Acceleration of the AfCFTA Implementation”, hence the symposium offered strategies for transforming Africa’s demography to harness the potential of Africa’s young people for the effective and meaningful implementation of the AfCFTA.
The convening comes almost a year after the AfCFTA Conference on Women and Youth in Trade, held in September 2022 at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The President of the AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AFYEF), Prince Siita Sofo Hissan, is among the distinguished speakers who will address the symposium. Prince Siita, himself an author and entrepreneur will join the panel discussion on the topic, “Unlocking Opportunities: Empowering Young People in AfCFTA Implementation”.
With his expertise and experience in youth entrepreneurship and economic development, the AfYEF leader is expected to offer insights into how the AfCFTA can provide a catalyst for youth empowerment and economic transformation across Africa.
The AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Continental president, Siita Sofo Hissan will be speaking on this important topic alongside Neneh Gainey Secka, Lineage Gambia, Gugu Siso, CEO, Thumeza, Fred Mukonda, UNDP and Melissa Sara Hamalambo, Executive Director, Centre for Youth Leaders in Africa Mulungushi Conference Center in Lusaka Zambia on the opening day of the event.
You can register to participate HERE
Source: GhanaWeb, Africannewspage
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