Date/Time
Date(s) - Monday, November 21, 2022
11:00 am - 12:45 pm
Categories
Side Event: Beyond Trade in Goods and Services: Preparing for Phase II of the AfCFTA
| Time | Activity | Facilitator / Speaker | Topic |
| 11:00 –11:05
(5 mins) |
Welcome | Lesley Wentworth
Managing Director, Tutwa Consulting Group |
Opening Remarks and Programme Direction |
| PRESENTATIONS | |||
| 11:05 – 11:20 | Keynote Opening | Mary Gounder
Trade Specialist, USAID – Africa Trade & Investment (ATI) |
Context of the ATI Continental Services Project
USAID Support for Trade and Investment in Africa and for the AfCFTA Implementation |
| 11:20 -11:30
(10 mins) |
Presentation 1 | Kane Jules
Economist, Tutwa Consulting Group |
E-Commerce and interoperability
With the E-Commerce Protocol in mind, this presentation will provide an overview of risks for global ICT systems and interoperability in African businesses and governments, and highlight the specific challenges faced by African states. The discussion will be grounded in case studies of E-commerce players and their challenges and options for resolving them in order to enable growth under the AfCFTA Protocols. |
| 11:30- 11:40
(10 mins) |
Presentation 2 | Thabelo Muleya
Legal and Policy Researcher, Tutwa Consulting Group
|
RECs and AfCFTA Protocols
The AfCFTA negotiations on Phase II have commenced. While these are ongoing, it is vitally important to understand the linkages of the AfCFTA Protocols and the rules and regulations, and policies in place at REC and MS level. This means that the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocols will help support the needed integration and harmonization across the African continent. |
| 11:40 to 11:50 | Q&A | All | Questions and comments from the audience |
| 11:50 to 12:40 | Facilitated Discussion | Facilitator: Lesley Wentworth
Panelists: Dr. Bernice McLean (AUDA-NEPAD), Mr. Ziad Hamoui (Borderless Alliance, Ghana), and Mr. Peter Varndell (SADC BC) EAC Secretariat Representative, TBC IGAD Secretariat Representative, TBC |
Each speaker presents (in 5 minutes) their perspectives of what will be significant issues to watch out for in the Phase II and III Negotiations and Discussions. Then the facilitator will pose questions and take questions from the audience addressed to the panel. |
| From 12:40 -To 12:45
(5 mins) |
Closing and Thanks | Lesley Wentworth
|
Vote of thanks to all the participants |