Скачать или смотреть 7th ALP Practice Group Global Townhall Webinar Series - Africa Trade...Getting Hotter

Africa Trade...Getting Hotter!!

On February 13th, 2024, the 7th ALP Practice Group Global Townhall Webinar Series, hosted by Africa Law Practice NG & Co along with ALP East Africa, ALP Trade Africa, and ALP Professional Services Ltd, drew participation from over 300 registrants across 30 countries and 5 continents. This international gathering served as a significant platform for fostering collaboration between private and public stakeholders - amplifying the voice of the private sector within the global arena.

The webinar focused on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement's Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), navigating critical aspects such as the liberalisation of the domestic services market, the enforcement of competition protocols within AfCFTA, and the future trajectory of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) within this framework.

Distinguished industry experts, including Beatrice Chaytor (Head of Division - Trade in Services, AfCFTA), Jonathan Aremu (Consultant at ECOWAS), Dave Anderson (Partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner – BCLP), Patience Okala (Investment Advisor at DTIID, AfCFTA), Olusegun Olutayo (Senior International Trade Policy & Law Expert), Umar Oba Adelodun (Entrepreneur), Patricia Mutiso (Director Partnerships – ALPTrade), and Olasupo Shasore SAN (Partner-ALP NG & Co), brought their wealth of expertise to the forefront as panelists and moderators. From providing economic context to elucidating trade protocols, competition law, and the role of BITs, these luminaries painted a vivid picture of the path ahead.

With Professor Jonathan Aremu, setting the stage with an insightful economic and geo-political context, Beatrice Chaytor delved into the Protocol on Trade in Services, spotlighting its pivotal role in opening up domestic services across Africa.

Dave Anderson, with over 30 years of competition law practice, provided a structural roadmap for AfCFTA to implement competition protocols while Patience Okala, illuminated the evolving landscape of Bilateral Investment Treaties in Africa, emphasizing their fundamental role in achieving AfCFTA's vision.

Olusegun Olutayo shared Nigeria's current stance through the National Action Committee for AfCFTA, providing a contextual backdrop. Umar Oba Adelodun represented entrepreneurs engaging in trade under the GTI, steering the discussions towards ground-level expectations and experiences.

The event successfully encapsulated the fusion of private and public sector perspectives, setting the stage for collaborative endeavours to unlock the full potential of the AfCFTA. As per the Town Hall’s practice, a summary of observations and recommendations will be compiled and forwarded to the AfCFTA Secretariat for their consideration, reinforcing the collaborative spirit and the practical outcomes of the webinar.

For detailed insights into the discussions and further inquiries, visit www.alp.company or www.alptrade.africa.