The 6th Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC) will feature conversations on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the role of local governance in helping with extensive sensitisation, education, and preparing the minds of the business communities within metropolitan, municipal, and district localities, the organisers have said.
The event will take place again in Ghana’s capital, Accra, on May 23 & 24, 2022 at the plush Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra – Commercial Capital of Africa.
The conference will update the evidence on what is currently available in terms of reviewing the AfCFTA, data on digital trade, and in doing so, identify potential options for estimating the value of Cross Border Payment & Settlement given the current data gaps.
The first panel for day one discussion is themed ‘Towards an Effective and Efficient Mobile Money Transactional Penetrations in Africa; A Catalyst to solving Cross Border Payment & Settlement, an Anticipated-Barrier within the AfCFTA; – The Role of Financial Regulators and Stakeholders.’
The panelist include; The Vice president of VISA, MasterCard; Swift’s senior country director for Western Africa; Chief Executive of Ghana chamber of Telecommunications; Chief Executive of the association of micro-finance institutions in Kenya, and the regional head of Société Général in West Africa based in Abidjan.
The second day of the conference is themed: Measuring the Acceptability and Adaptation Level of the AfCFTA on the African Continent a Year after Implementation of the 1st Phase;- Where do we stand in terms of Trade in Goods, Trade in Service, and Dispute Resolution Protocols (Policy Direction) with focus on the Role of Africa’s Local Governance Structures in preparing their various Business Communities to take advantage.
The panel dubbed ‘The Trade Minister’s Panel’, will see some selected Trade Ministers within the continent joining the conclave.
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The final panel discussion on day 2 is on the theme: Leveraging on the pillars of Trade-Finance – A catalyst for Industrial Growth and Acceleration Post Pandemic; the Role of Payment, Financing, Risk Mitigation, and Access to Information.
This panel will seek to address current woes facing industries due to the prolonged restrictions on the COVID pandemic, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the post pandemic – the available finance options for industry.
- A call to action: Strengthening HSE governance for a safer, cleaner energy future in Nigeria
- Exploring the potential of alternative investments beyond traditional asset classes
- How international exposure has given NAFDAC’s Moji Adeyeye an edge over the management of regulatory processes and falsified medicines’ vendors
The third panel comprises The Vice President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, the Head of Trade Finance at the African Development Bank, the Ivorian President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Special Advisor to the Ivorian President of the Federation of SMEs.
Special Invited Guests includes the African Union Economic Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Mining.
The Director General of the West African Monetary Institute will lecture on a special presentation on the entire scope of the implementation of the Pan African Payment and Settlement System;- an undeniable critical component of the Continental Free Trade Area.
The 6th edition of GITFiC will be attended by the diplomatic corps and will represent their various countries and also contribute to the discussions.
Representing Ghana’s Industry is Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo, Greater Accra Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries.
Other participants include; the Ghana International Trade Commission, GUTA, Ghana Canada Chamber of Commerce et al.
There are confirmed delegations from Kenya, Angola, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic et al.
The two-day conference will be hosted and moderated by Prince Moses Ofori-Atta of Asaase Radio and Tajudeen Nasiru of the West African Monetary Institute (retired).
The conference, in observing the COVID19 practical protocols laid down by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Health, will strictly enforce all protocols to the latter. The Conference is strictly by invitation.
