Accra, Ghana// – Ghana hosted a roadshow to raise awareness about the substantial benefits of attending the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021).
Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, IATF2021 will take place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 15 to 21 November 2021.
In his Keynote speech, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry of Ghana, Herbert Krapa said: “The intra-African Trade Fair is an indispensable market access and information sharing avenue, necessary to unlock the benefits of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). IATF is therefore very relevant in the trade economies of the African continent.”
Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President in charge of Finance, Administration and Banking Services said: “Afreximbank stands firm in our commitment in support of Intra-African trade and investment and in so doing we are ready to support you to ensure there are adequate resources both financial and non-financial.”
He added that “as one of the biggest economies in West Africa, the participation and contribution of the private sector of Ghana is key in the success of the AfCFTA. IATF2021 provides a sustainable platform for buyers and sellers, investors and governments to connect, exchange trade, investment, market information, and conclude transactions.”
The IATF2021 roadshow in Accra featured a panel discussion under the theme “Building forward better post-COVID-19: promoting Ghana-Africa trade and investment under the AfCFTA with the participation of Ms. Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Initiative; Ms. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, CEO, Ghana Enterprises Agency; Humphrey Ayim Darke, Vice President of AGI; Neville Matjie, CEO Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal; Ms. Demitta Ayang, Senior Advisor, Customs & Trade Facilitation, AfCFTA Secretariat; and Anthony Nyame-Baafi, Senior Technical Advisor, Ministry of Trade and Industry Ghana.
Closing Remarks at the Roadshow were made by the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Ms Grace Jeanet Mason who said: “Our resilience and greatest strength is in our constitutional order. Together we will rebuild, reconstruct and recover our economy”.
African Eye Report
