UNCTAD, in coordination with the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations will organize a virtual high-level panel on the theme, “Boosting Trade Facilitation and Rethinking the Foundations of Africa’s Export Diversification”, within the framework of the 2023 Africa Dialogue Series (ADS).
The Africa Dialogue Series is an interactive platform for policy- and decision-makers, experts, academics, and members of civil society to propose solutions and share knowledge about Africa’s challenges and opportunities. Together with its partners, OSAA organizes the ADS each year in May to contribute to and amplify the African Union’s priorities and the African Member States.
The 2023 edition of the Africa Dialogue Series will feature a variety of activities and events on various aspects of the theme, “Market and Scale: Unlocking Industrialization through Intra-African trade” during the period from 1 to 24 May 2023.
The high-level panel on “Boosting Trade Facilitation and Rethinking the Foundations of Africa’s Export Diversification” aims to emphasize the importance of structural transformation in African economies to achieve economic diversification and maximize the opportunities provided by the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The panel will also explore the role of the service sector and small and medium-sized enterprises in driving economic diversification towards higher value-added manufactured goods and services. The panel will bring together various stakeholders, including governments, UN agencies, regional and subregional organizations, civil society, and the private sector, to enhance commitment towards greater investments and coordination in expanding the capabilities of Africa's growing population, particularly women and youth, and taking advantage of the opportunities under the AfCFTA.
