ADS 2024, Sub-theme 1 – International Webinar
In Focus
In case you missed it:
- Relive the actions during the High-level Policy Dialogue at the Africa Dialogue Series 2023, focusing on each sub-theme: ; Growing Middle Class and Continental Import Substitution: Connecting the Dots to Unlock Made in Africa; and Digital Services Trade: Great Potential but Regulatory Frameworks Are Urgent.
- Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General at the High-level Policy Dialogue.
Week 3 | Day Three — 17 May
This week, the thematic focus of the Africa Dialogue Series 2023, including the international webinar, is digital trade. Titled "Digital Service Trade: Great Potential but Regulatory Frameworks Are Urgent" this webinar includes the participation of preeminent technical experts and officials, including Dr. Raphael Mezui-Mintsa, Director General of the Digital Economy, Ministry of Communications and the Digital Economy, Gabon. African business leaders in the digital industry will also share their perspectives. Participants will anchor their exchange on a newly released policy brief of the same title, which makes a set of concrete policy recommendations to leverage the enormous potential of digital trade toward accelerating Africa’s development, including the development of strong regulatory policies on the connection of physical infrastructure underpinning digital networks across Africa and the establishment of an enabling environment for trade in digital services by ensuring the protection of the virtual identities of business owners and consumers.
Use the hashtags #ADS2023, #AfricaDialogueSeries and #AfCFTA on social media to participate.
Schedule
4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Addis Ababa time (UTC+3)
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (UTC-4) | 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (UTC)
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (UTC+1) | 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (UTC+2)
Policy Brief
Digital Service Trade: Great Potential but Regulatory Frameworks Are Urgent
Programme
- Moderated by Mr. Stephen Karingi, Director, Regional Integration and Trade Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
9:00 - 9:10: Session Opening
- Welcoming Remarks, Ms. Cristina Duarte, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa
- Opening Remarks, , Acting Executive Secretary, UNECA
- Opening Remarks, Ms. Emily Njeri Mburu-Ndoria, Director of Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights and Digital Trade, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat
9:10 - 9:15: Scene Setting
- H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
9:15 - 10:15: Panel Discussion
- Dr. Raphael Mezui-Mintsa, Director General of the Digital Economy, Ministry of Communications and the Digital Economy, Gabon
- Ms. Michelle Chivunga, CEO and Founder, Global Policy House
- Dr. Robert Ochola, Chief Executive Officer, AfricaNenda
- Ms. Treasure Maphanga, Chief Operating Officer, African Electronic Trade Group
- Mr. Lacina Koné, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Smart Africa
- Ms. Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSM Association
10:15 - 10:25: Q&A with the audience
10:25 - 10:30: Closing remarks and call to action