The World Trade Organization (WTO) will hold its annual Public Forum 2025 on 17 and 18 September in Geneva. Against this backdrop, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will host a dedicated session discussing its flagship publication, the Economic Development in Africa Report (EDAR) 2024, “Unlocking Africa’s Trade Potential: Boosting Regional Markets and Reducing Risks.”
Considering that Africa’s trade potential remains largely untapped due to exposure to external shocks and underutilized regional value chains, EDAR 2024 provides a data-driven lens on how African economies can de-risk trade, shift from commodity dependence and build long-term resilience through regional integration, smart infrastructure and firm-level risk management strategies.
This session will address Africa’s need to build resilience in the face of increasing global uncertainty. It seeks to enhance African market connectivity by reinforcing intra-regional trade linkages and strengthening firm-level capacity to withstand shocks. It also aims to create new avenues for trade diversification and value addition within Africa through regional value chain development. By highlighting the importance of proactive risk mitigation and resilience planning, the session speaks to the need to preserve the gains made in African trade integration despite overlapping global crises. Finally, the session links these African-led strategies to the broader global trade architecture, particularly ongoing WTO discussions on trade facilitation, digital trade and inclusive governance mechanisms.
H.E. Mrs. Fancy Chepkemoi Too, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Office in Geneva, together with Prof. Wim Naudé of RWTH Aachen University will lead the discussion.
