2 - 3 DECEMBER, KIGALI RWANDA

THEME:

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DIGITAL TRADE

AFRICA TRADE DEVELOPMENT FORUM-KIGALI

About the Africa Trade Development Forum

With our shared goals for a prosperous Africa in mind, we are re-establishing the Africa Trade Development Forum, a gathering aimed at propelling advancements in trade facilitation and shaping a strategic voice for trade across the continent.  This year, the Government of Rwanda is proud to co-host the event in Kigali from December 2 to 3, 2024. Building on the successes of previous fora held in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2019, this platform will bring together Heads of States and senior Government Officials, Development Partners, Academicians, Multilateral Organisations and Private Sector leaders and innovators to discuss and make decisions that will achieve our vision of a thriving Africa.

Showcase Africa’s digital trade experiences, lessons and share success stories from a people, politics and practice perspective

Strengthen partnerships among government officials, industry leaders, scholars and key stakeholders in the trade and digital sectors

Provide a collaborative platform to amplify a unified voice for Africa’s digital future and explore innovative concepts

When & Where

Kigali is prepared to host The Africa Trade Development Forum.Africa is advancing its economic development agenda rapidly. Young people are demanding not just jobs but fulfilling careers that give them control over their futures. Trade has the power to make that happen, and it is up to us to connect the dots between trade policies and the real change that the continent is pursuing.

Topics of Discussion

This event will reimagine Africa’s trade landscape, where digital innovation unlocks the continent’s borderless potential. We will explore how technology can empower businesses, connect markets, and foster inclusive economic growth. Backed by data, we will envision a future where cross-border trade is seamless, secure, and sustainable, with a focus on interoperability of digital services, in particular payments and information exchanges. Through insightful discussions and collaborative exploration, we will uncover strategies to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that every African benefits from digital trade.

Driving inclusion and sustainability

Driving inclusion and sustainability

How to increase access, sustainability and ethics in trade through digital processes.

The future for policy

Integrating digital technologies into traditional trade governance frameworks.

Increasing trust

The place of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and Artificial Intelligence.

Evolution of e-commerce

Digital Trade as a catalyst for expanding opportunity to markets.

New funding models

New funding models

Programme highlights

Opening Remarks

Keynote speeches from host Government and international funding bodies.

Featuring host Government and leaders from the private sector and funding bodies.

A sideline event organised by Trade Catalyst Africa to explore funding opportunities and partnerships for infrastructure development.

Will include interactive sessions like panel discussions, round tables, open-mic sessions. Discussions will focus on emergent trends in digital trade, policy evolution and technological breakthroughs, based on research findings from leading institutions.

Showcases and targeted discussions on digital payments, AI integration, and the nexus on digital and green trade.

A joint call to action by the Government of Rwanda and international delegates, underscoring key outcomes from the event and commitments to advance trade in Africa.

Meet Your Speakers

Hon Prudence Sebahizi
Hon Prudence Sebahizi
Minister of Trade and Industry, Rwanda
H
H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn
Chair of the Board, TMA & Former Prime Minister, Ethiopia
H.E
H.E. Wamkele Mene
Secretary-General, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat
Dr
Dr. Kassahun Gofe
Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Ethiopia
Khomotso Letsatsi
Khomotso Letsatsi
Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, Executive Head- Lanseria
Hon
Hon. Sosten Alfred Gwengwe
Minister of Trade and Industry, Malawi
Pascal Lamy
Pascal Lamy
Vice President, Paris Peace Forum, Former Director General, WTO
David Beer
David Beer
Chief Executive Officer,
TMA
Hilda Moraa
Hilda Moraa
Founder and CEO,
Pezesha
Lola Ekugo
Lola Ekugo
Digital Executive & Director, SWIT – Odu’a Investment Company (Nigeria)
Moses Kemibaro
Moses Kemibaro
Founder Dotsavvy and thought leader in Tech in Africa
Throuput at Mombasa Port
Tonnes Cargo throughput at Mombasa Port
0 Mio

Improved efficiency at the Port of Mombasa has contributed to increased volumes of trade. Cargo throughput registered a steady annual compounded growth of 5.7% from 27 million MT in 2016, to 34 million MT in 2020. Container traffic compound growth of 5.6%, from 1,091,371 TEUs in 2016 to 1,359,579 TEUs in 2020. Source Northern Corridor Annual Report, 2021.

Transport Costs
Cargo Clearance at Mombasa Port
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In 2010, it took 11.2 days for cargo to clear at Mombasa Port. TradeMark Africa has contributed over US$88 million to support improvement of infrastructure, systems and processes at the port, thus contributing to a reduction of clearance time. Resultantly, Kenya Ports Authority reports that cargo clearance time reduced to 3.5 days in 2022 (Source-Kenya Ports Authority Statistics).

Clearance Time
in increased exports
US$ 0 M

A 2019 FCDO commissioned independent impact evaluation of TradeMark Africa interventions established that our work had contributed to annual cost savings of US$110 million, resulting in increased exports by US$549 million, and imports by US$145 million. Time savings led to an additional US$102 million in exports.

OSBPS
Average reduction in time to cross select OSBPs
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Time to cross select One Stop Border Posts reduced by an average of 70%, leading to annual savings of US$62.8 million. TradeMark Africa has overseen construction, completion and operationalisation of 15 OSBPs to date. Supporting 10 additional ones as of 2022.

Swifts
Digital portals (Single Window Information for Trade Systems)
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TradeMark Africa has facilitated over 60 Digital portals (Single Window Information for Trade Systems) in trade agencies across Eastern Africa region. These have reduced the time to process trade documents from an average of 86 hours in 2012 to 10 hours in 2016 and cost per transaction from $58 to $8 in the same period.

Women in Trade
Women cross-border traders reached
> 0

The women in trade programme has reached over 200,000 women cross border traders, set up information centres across 14 border crossing points across Eastern Africa, built capacity of 3500 women led SME’s to link them to markets.

Featured Project

Barometer To Tack EAC Trade Launched
Play Video about Barometer To Tack EAC Trade Launched

Building green trade corridors

A video of our work in supporting implementation Of green port policy with #TeamEurope. Making strides toward greener trade in Kenya.