Partnerships for sustainable industrialization in Africa: Lessons from the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in the least developed countries (LDCs)

Time: 09:00-10:15

Location: Room S2, World Trade Organization

Register for the session here by 17 August

Increased industrialization as a tool for economic diversification and the building of productive capacities if left unchecked could result in negative environmental impacts. In the context of rapidly advancing environmental degradation and climate change, the AfCFTA must serve as a lever for sustainable growth on the continent in line with Africa's Agenda 2063. Achieving sustainable development in Africa will entail quickening the pace of industrialization in a way that is environmentally sustainable. This will require promoting a green industrialization including key components, such as greening production and logistics, increasing the use of renewables and shortening value chain cycles to reduce environmental footprints. 

Increased industrialization as a tool for economic diversification and the building of productive capacities if left unchecked could result in negative environmental impacts. 

The AfCFTA presents significant promise for Africa's development. In the context of rapidly advancing environmental degradation and climate change, the AfCFTA must also serve as a lever for sustainable growth on the continent in line with Africa's Agenda 2063. Achieving sustainable development in Africa will entail quickening the pace of industrialization in a way that is environmentally sustainable. This will require a green industrialization that includes key components to reduce environmental footprints. 

In this session, partner perspectives will be shared on the implementation of the AfCFTA, particularly efforts towards the use of the AfCFTA as an instrument for advancing green growth within the free trade area. In addition, the role of trade-related technical assistance, particularly national implementation arrangements, in advancing green industrialization will be explored.

The objectives of this session are to: 

• Share partner perspectives on the implementation of the AfCFTA particularly efforts towards the use of the AfCFTA as an instrument for advancing green growth. 
• Assess the role of national implementation arrangements generally and in advancing green growth within the free trade area, particularly to review progress in implementation through national implementation committees. 

Questions will seek to uncover: 

• The ways in which partners can strengthen the linkages between the AfCFTA and the environment, with a focus on concrete approaches and strategies. 
• The role of national implementation committees in speeding up implementation of AfCFTA-related policies. 
• The role of trade-related technical assistance, particularly national implementation arrangements in efforts towards the use of the AfCFTA in advancing green growth.

Moderator: Dieudonné W. Désiré Sougouri - Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the WTO.

Panellists: 

• Ms Ngone Diop – Director, Sub Regional Office for West Africa - United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) 
• Mr Richard Niwenshuti – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda 
• Professor Dirk Willem te Velde – Director of International Economic Development group, Principal Research Fellow – ODI
• Ms Annette Ssemuwemba – Deputy Secretary-General, East African Community (EAC) (TBC)