ABOUT GITFIC 2020

Theme for GITFIC 2020 : OPTIMIZING AfCFTA FOR AFRICANS; STRATEGIC ROLE OF LOGISTICS INFRASTRUCTURE.

ABOUT GITFIC:

The Ghana International Trade & Finance Conference is a Ghanaian cum Pan-African registered company legally carrying its mandate under the laws and regulations of Ghana including organizing conferences.

This conference which has been held annually in Ghana transformed into a Pan-African conference and was held at the AU Headquarters in 2019 in partnership with the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations. The main aim of GITFIC is to bring together Business Executives, policy makers and subject matter experts from all over Africa and the world to articulate ways of enhancing inter Africa trade, regional integration, trade liberalization, trade policies and practices of the African continent and notably to turn talks into actions.

The unique feature of our annual conference is its ability to galvanize the business community of Africa as a major driving force moving Africa as a bloc in the global trade and working together on its shared future. Our business 2 business COCKTAIL DINNER has been specially designed to allow for ample time to meet new business partners and possible funding from financial houses present.

The tripartite focal point of GITFIC is; TRADE, TRADE-FINANCE AND LOGISTICS.

PROGRAM OUTLINE for GITFIC 2020;

Day1

• Open Ceremony
• Welcome Address
• Special Guest
• Keynote Speaker
• 4 Panel Speakers –

I Session is on Trade
II Session is Ambassadors Session
III Session is with Academia
IV Session is on Ports & Customs
V Session is with Logistics Experts

Side Attractions:
2 Coffee Breaks
1 B2B Dinner at 7pm
2 Poetry Performances
1 Culture Performance

Day2

• Welcome Address
• Special Guest
• Keynote Speaker
• 4 Panel Speakers –

I Session is on Tech & Finance
II Session is with Governors of State Banks
III Session is with Heads of Chamber of Commerce
IV Session is with State / Private Media Heads
V Session is with Trade-Union Heads

• Closing Ceremony

Side Attractions:
2 Coffee Breaks
1 Lunch
2 Poetry Performances
1 Culture Performance
1 Tour at the Tema Port

Each Session will see a minimum of 4 Panelists seated for various topical discussions within the AfCFTA framework. Each session will be allocated a minimum of 2hrs. Each Keynote Speaker will stay at the Panel Sessions to contribute to the Panel Discussions. Each Keynote Speaker will set the tone for discussion during his/her Speech.

Key areas to be looked at under this broad and strategic theme are;

– Physical Connectivity
– Digital Connectivity
– Infrastructure Deficit
– Tariffs Reforms
– Non Tariff Reforms
– Port Harmonization
– A Single Continental Payment Harmonization System
– A single Continental Digital Platform
– A Harmonized Trading Platform for Member States
– A Harmonized Continental Cyber Security System
– Standardization of Member State Trade Protocols
– Leveraging on the already existing Internet Connectivity within each Member State to drive AfCFTA

HOW TO OVERCOME THE FOLLOWING;

– Language Barriers
– Culture Barriers
– Currency Barriers
– Security Barriers (Terrorism)
– Bureaucratic Barriers

Some areas within the Physical Connectivity we will be looking at are;

  • Road Networks
  • Air Networks
  • Rail Networks
  • Sea Networks

 We will also look at how all the above will be FINANCED and whether these Statutory Continental Finance-Structures are ready for takeoff.

Should we seek external assistance from External Finance Houses especially the Bretton Woods Institutions? All of these and many more will be broadly looked at.

Conference Date: April 9th – 10th 2020

 Conference Venue: Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra – Ghana ( 5 Star)

 Conference Time: 9am – 6pm each day

 Participation Fee: 920 USD (per person)

Exhibition Fee: 1,260 USD (2 x 3 sqm + 1 table + 2 chairs + wifi + electricity)

 Kindly contact us for Sponsorship Packages (support@gitfic.com)

Platinum Sponsorship

Gold Sponsorship

Silver Sponsorship

Accommodation: Special Conference Rate: 280 USD per night at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel (5 Start Hotel. Same as Conference Venue)

WHY THIS THEME and SUB-THEMES:

You will agree with us that LOGISTIC plays a vital role in the success of Trade. Trade can never be accomplished without a proper and adequate logistics in place. We are also of the obvious view that internal logistics within member states suffers several challenges therefore consolidating it on the larger scale in a single CONTINENTAL TRADE will be more challenging. This have challenged the Steering Committee of GITFIC to put together this theme for next year and to gather authorities within the sector to critically look at it and map out strategic, comprehensive and solution-oriented GITFIC-2020.

GITFIC is of the extreme believe that, if AfCFTA is for Africans then Africans should gather in Accra (WHERE AfCFTA SECRETARIAT IS SITUATED) to discuss how issues of Logistics can be solved in accordance with each member-state’s internal protocols and modalities. Issues bordering Logistics Infrastructure should not and cannot be underestimated when it comes to Intra-African Trade. Therefore, if we are to look at Logistics Infrastructure in this context then what should the sub-themes be? The sub-themes will determine and charter the path for the various topics to be discussed by our list of A-List-Speakers. The guiding factor expected to provoke thoughts and strict decisions within the aforementioned sectors have a single determinant. This determinant;- we believe are the following;

Physical Connectivity when it comes to issues of Logistics Infrastructure

Digital Connectivity when it comes to issues of Logistics Infrastructure

Infrastructure Deficit when it comes to issues bordering Logistics

We are of the optimum conviction that if the above three sub-themes are critically looked at with pragmatic solutions at GITFIC-2020, the African Union should be successful in implementing the Free Trade Area to the benefit of all including multinational establishments in Africa.

The academic team will put together a communiqué to the African Union two weeks after the conference. This action will be headed by Prof. Bokpin of the University of Ghana who is also the HEAD OF STEERING COMMITTEE OF GITFIC.

OUR CONFERENCE IN 2020 WILL PROVIDE A SINGLE PLATFORM FOR ALL TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ON AfCFTA and WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES IN AFRICA AND THE WORLD AT LARGE STAND TO BENEFIT OR LOSE. Africa will meet here. You don’t want to miss GITFIC 2020. It’s been tailor designed with your business interest in mind.