MEDIA ADVISORY
INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

Boosting Intra-African Trade: African Women taking the Lead!
What: Boosting Intra-African Trade: African Women taking the Lead!
Theme: “Made in Africa” and “Buy in Africa”.
Time: 8.30 – 5.30 pm
When: 3 December 2019
Where: AUC Headquarters, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Mandela Hall

Who: H.E the President of Ethiopia, UN Agencies, Delegations of women entrepreneurs from the different African countries
Background:
Africa is in a unique position in that it has the chance to trade with an untapped market. There is need for African countries to unlock trade amongst themselves for the benefit of their economies. Intra-regional trade statistics show that intra-Africa rates among the lowest (15 percent), with less than 20 percent of what is produced in the region staying within the region. Africa is still the world’s least connected continent. African countries should therefore focus on developing connectedness and building trade relationships.
Fifty four (54) African Union Member States have signed the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) as of 7 July 2019. The AfCFTA will be the biggest free trade agreement since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In light of the aforementioned, the continental event will be one of the key highlights in the operationalization of the AfCFTA Agreement in Africa. The AfCFTA Agreement is expected to promote industrialization and regional/continental competitiveness through the creation of regional market value chains for goods and services.

In the planned continental event, African women are expected to exhibit and showcase their products and services, taking part in Business to Business (B2B) meetings, encouraging purchase and sale among themselves. Potential international buyers are also expected to take part, by promoting what Africa can offer to the world on December 3-4, 2019. Participants are also expected to participate in the different side events that will take place during the continental event.

Objectives:

• To create a platform for African women entrepreneurs to network, exchange information on products and services and share experiences;
• To facilitate trade between African countries, where each country can be a seller as well as a buyer;
• To promote “Made in Africa” and “Buy in Africa”;
• To provide a platform for potential international buyers to buy products and services by African women;
• To discuss policy ideas/recommendations and share experience on specific challenges faced by women engaged in cross-border trade (through the side events expected to be organized during the Continental Event) with policy makers in AU Member States, continental organs (AUC, RECs, etc.) and stakeholders, in order to promote a conducive business environment for African women; and
• Advocate (using different media) and inform all concerned that African women entrepreneurs are willing and able to trade among themselves thus encouraging “doing business within Africa”.
For media enquiry pleases contact:
Ms. Susan Nyabena/ Junior Programmer Officer/ Women Gender and Development Directorate. Email: nyabenaS@africa-union.orgTel : +0944-083113
Ms.Afrah Thabit / communication Officer / Directorate of Information and communication E mail; Thabitma@africa-union.orgTell : +251911-200922
Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE). Email: info@cawee-ethiopia.com, yodittesh21@gmail.com

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org

Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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