ALL TOPICS ARE WELL VETTED AND CRAFTED TO SERVE THE THEME & PURPOSE

Session I    9am – 10:45am   

On AfCFTA Trade Negotiators

Topic: The Agreements, The Disagreements et al; what was the most Challenging Point throughout the Negotiations? Was it addressed? If yes, How?

HIGHLIGHT: (As Negotiators, it is obvious that many of the tough jobs were done by you. What we have today as the final Master Piece was achieved through your tireless effort as representatives of your various countries.)

Session II     10:45am – 12:30noon

Ambassadors Session

Topic: Your Country’s Specific Preparedness in harnessing the full Benefits of AfCFTA.

HIGHLIGHT: (Specifically citing the Experience, Excitements, the Mix Feelings, the Doubts, the Shock, the Anxiety et al)

LUNCH BREAK  12:30NOON – 1:30pm

Session III       1:30pm – 2:45pm

Academic Session

Topic: Africa; Can Salvation be found in AfCFTA?

HIGHLIGHT: (Is AfCFTA the game changer for Africa? Is that what we have been waiting for all these while?)

COFFEE BREAK   2:45pm – 3:15pm

Session IV     3:15pm – 4:45pm

Ports, Customs & Immigration Authorities

Topic: Examining the Role of Ports, Customs & Immigration in a Successful Implementation of AfCFTA

HIGHLIGHT: (AfCFTA can never been successful without a unified and harmonized key roles of the Ports, Customs and Immigration. There will be movements of good as well as movement of Labor)

Session I       9am – 10:45am    

Tech & Finance – Physical & Digital Connectivity aspect of AfCFTA

Topic: Addressing the Physical & Digital Connectivity Challenges; – The Role of Regional and Development Finance Institutions, Telecommunication & Digital Institutions and State Actors

HIGHLIGHT: (Banks must behave like Tech Companies to Survive. Tech and Finance should move hand in hand. The Physical Connectivity of AfCFTA is defined by GITFIC as MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT thus; Sea, Road, Air and Rail. Can an importer from Ghana or Nigeria easily have his/her consignment freight from PoL to PoD in Morocco, Egypt, Rwanda or Kenya?. Unless chartering, a vessel cannot move from Tema Port to Lagos without transiting through Asia or Europe.)

Session II       10:45am – 12:30noon

Governors of State Banks & Finance Experts

Topic: The Role of African Central Banks in Harmonizing the Payment Systems within AfCFTA

HIGHLIGHT: Trade goes hand in hand with Cash (MONEY). The definition of CENTRAL BANK couldn’t have been clearer than this; a central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is an institution that manages the currency, money supply, and interest rates of a state or formal monetary union, and oversees their commercial banking system.)

LUNCH BREAK     12:30NOON – 1:30pm

Session III      1:30pm – 2:45pm

Heads of Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Topic: Industries Readiness for AfCFTA; Leveraging on the Opportunities for Businesses

HIGHLIGHT: (Chamber of Commerce and Industry Associations is the direct representative of the Business Community in every country. Members of this Chamber of Commerce are the direct target and beneficiary of the AfCFTA. These are the guys who will mainly drive AfCFTA.)

COFFEE BREAK   2:45pm – 3:15pm

Session IV       3:15pm – 4:45pm

Heads of Trade Unions

Topic: Harmonizing Trade Unions in the Context of AfCFTA

HIGHLIGHT: (A trade union is an association of workers forming a legal unit or legal personhood, usually called a “bargaining unit”, which acts as bargaining agent and legal representative for a unit of employees in all matters of law or right arising from or in the administration of a collective agreement;- By this definition Trade Unions on the African Continent are deep stakeholders in AfCFTA.)

Session V     4:45pm – 5:45pm

State or Private Media Houses

Topic: Defining the Position of the Media in the total Implementation of AfCFTA

HIGHLIGHT:  (At what point will the Media be adequately educated on AfCFTA? The Role of the Media can never be under estimated. The Media is and has always been the PRIME MEANS of reaching the masses. As of now, the Media seems to be oblivious of AfCFTA).

NB: There will be SPECIAL one on one Sessions intermittently with VVIP SPECIAL GUESTs.