Great expectations – will AfCFTA deliver?

African countries opened their markets on 1st January under the African Continental Free Area (AfCFTA), a continent-wide free trade area that paves the way for a continental customs union.  By creating a mutually beneficial trade agreement among the member states, the AfCFTA pact is expected to promote industrialisation, create jobs, empower women (by improving their access to trade opportunities) and improve the competitiveness of African industries on the global stage.  Can we expect  AfCFTA to significantly increase intra-regional trade? What are the results we’re seeing so far?

Professor Tsitsi Mutambara of Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 presents her study examining the regional intensity of trade in Africa from 2001-2018 and the implications for intra-Africa trade in the African Continental Free Area (AfCFTA). The results are considered as an ex post indication of trade integration and intra-Africa trade, with the AfCFTA in place. 

DATE: Wednesday, 9 June

TIME: 14h15

REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_immQ8dhJQwWV1b0xXcyg7A

CHAIR:

Professor Cyril Nhlanhla Mbatha
Director, Rhodes Institute of Social and Economic Research

SPEAKER:

Professor Tsitsi Mutambara
Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Economic History, Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 Faculty of Commerce 

RESPONDENT:

Mr Simon Hess

Head – Monitoring and Evaluation, Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Initiative, World Trade Organisation

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