Rwanda: The Africa Trade Development Forum 2024 has officially kicked off in Kigali, Rwanda. The theme for this year is ‘Unlocking Africa’s Trade Potential Through Digital Innovation.’
The 6th edition of the Africa Trade Development Forum was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente, during the official opening ceremony that was held at Kigali Marriot Hotel.
PM Ngirente addressed the participants and congratulated the recently appointed TradeMark Africa Board Chair – Haile Mariam Desalegn. He expressed confidence in his strategic leadership and extensive experience to guide the TradeMark Africa towards trade transformation, all across the continent.
The Premier event of the forum commended the ongoing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and its Digital Trade Protocol. He insisted on the need for African countries to invest in the digital and technological capabilities and adapt to the ever-changing trade environment driven by emerging the technologies.
Prime Minister reiterated the call made by the President Paul in Biashara Afrika 2024. He stressed majorly on the importance of free movement of people, goods and services to unlock full potential of intra-Africa trade.
He called upon private sector officials to seize the opportunities under the AfCFTA programme and expand their businesses through regional value chains and cross-border trade.
Ngirente shared the journey of Rwanda towards fostering a digital trade ecosystem, that underscored its continued commitment which will advance the digital trade to drive the regional integration and economic growth.
Africa Trade Development Forum 2024
Through this forum, Africa is advancing its economic development agenda rapidly. It is designed to meet the demands of young people and career fulfilling job opportunities that give them control over their future.
The organisers believes that the Trade has the power to make that happen and it is up to them to connect the dots between trade policies and the real change that the continent is pursuing.
The officials expressed that with the re-establishment of the Africa Trade Development Forum 2024, they vision shared goal for a prosperous Africa. They aim at propelling advancements is trade facilitation and shaping a voice for trade across the continent. The Rwanda Government is proud to co-host the event in Kigali from Dec 02 to 03, 2024.
Notably, the platform brought together the Heads of States and Senior Government Officials, Development Partners and Academicians. The event also saw Multilateral Organisations and Private Sector Leaders & Innovators to discuss and make decisions that will achieve the vision of a thriving Africa.
Day-1
The Day-1 proved to be an exciting start for the Africa Trade Development Forum 2024. It staged big conversations about digital future of Africa. The heated topic was the cross-border data sharing, which is seen as a crucial step towards a connected – Digital Africa.
Along with 600 million young people driving innovation across the continent, they conveyed that there is a real sense of energy and potential in the air. The forum also emphasised how important the strong leadership and right frameworks are for turning these opportunities into real for lasting growth.
Moreover, discussions from the event highlighted the need to integrate small businesses into the digital trade economy. It encouraged to invest in both physical and digital infrastructure and address challenges such as low internet penetration and the digital skills gap.
Day-1 also held discussion over ‘Greener Africa’, considering which Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office of African Development Bank – Dr. Joy Kategekwa said, “Paving the way for a greener Africa is not just a vision, it is a necessity. By redefining the transportation with green practices, we can reduce environmental impact, foster innovation and align with Africa’s growth agenda. The future is eco-friendly and together, we can make it happen.”
At the forum, the speakers also emphasized the importance of political commitment, policy harmonization and fostering a supportive environment for the private sector to thrive in the digital economy.