FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2021, Accra, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, New York, London, Paris
Hubert Danso, Chairman of Africa investor (Ai) Group and the African Union’s Continental Business Network (CBN), today congratulated African political and business leaders for their tireless efforts and leadership to create the conditions for the operational launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, and policy collaboration to accelerate the AfCFTA eCommerce – eTrade Protocol negotiations to 2021.
In support of the AfCFTA, Ai recently launched the AfricaPLC industrial eTrade platform.
AfricaPLC.com is an African private sector led innovative, B2B and B2G multi-sector, industrial eCommerce Marketplace and FinTech platform. Firstly the platform aims to improve intra-African trade flows, cross-border payments and supply chain transparency. Secondly, digital business tools for logistics such as eCertificates of Origin and access to trade intelligence and global markets are provided.
AfricaPLC was launched during the 13th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly on AfCFTA which was successfully Chaired by H.E. President Ramaphosa. Mr. Ramaphosa is the current President of the Republic of South Africa and Chairman of the African Union.
The AfricaPLC launch was Chaired by Hubert Danso, Chairman of Africa investor (Ai) Group and the African Union’s Continental Business Network (CBN).
A number of global trade Secretary Generals, including, Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA Secretariat, John Denton, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Vinco David, Secretary General, Berne Union and Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organization (WCO) presided over the ceremony and above all showed their support for the initiative.
ICC-Ai AfricaPLC Digitize 5 million SMEs Campaign
Secondly, the ICC-Ai AfricaPLC Digitize 5 million SMEs Campaign in support of the AfCFTA and the continent’s private sector was launched on the same occasion. Most importantly the aim of the campaign is to work with African business and chambers leaders to develop policy recommendations which may assist governments, development partners and policymakers to make informed decisions. As a result, the campaign aims to expand sustainable development, digital inclusion and eTrade opportunities in support of the AfCFTA. The campaign will facilitate access to trade and supply chain finance, digital logistics, trade data, as well as capacity building and training tools for SMEs across Africa.
Meanwhile, the Ai African Sovereign Wealth and Pension Fund Leaders Forum and Co-Investment Platform will also be mobilizing it’s Sovereign Wealth and Pension Fund investment leaders. The objective is to pursue regional and domestic industrial supply chain investment initiatives which may further support the implementation of the AfCFTA.
Speaking today on the operational launch of the AfCFTA, Hubert Danso commended H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger, and Leader of the Continental Free Trade Area and H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat. Danso thanked them for their stellar leadership under challenging COVID-19 related economic constraints. In addition he highlighted the multitude of complex negotiations that were precursors for today’s operational launch.
This is the historic opportunity of our time for the continent. Firstly, AfCFTA will significantly increase intra-African and eTrade flows, digital industrialization and industrial infrastructure investment. Secondly, Africa’s access to global trade will increase, particularly for SMEs, women and youth entrepreneurs through eTrade.
– Hubert Danso, Chairman of Africa investor
Conclusion
Danso called on African business and investment leaders to see the continent as one domestic market. Start building pan-African trading partner relationships by taking 2 minutes to register on the AfricaPLC platform and show your support for the ICC-Ai AfricaPLC Digitize 5 million SMEs Campaign.
Media Contact
Wendy Edwards
Africa investor (Ai)
E: Wedwards@africainvestor.com
T: +27 (0) 11 7832431
ABOUT AFRICA INVESTOR (AI) AND AIAFRICAPLC (AFRICAPLC)
Africa investor (Ai) is an institutional investment holding platform. The platform connects pools of capital from sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, family offices and long-term investors with vetted infrastructure, private equity and technology investment opportunities in Africa.
In support of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Ai established AiAfricaPLC. AfricaPLC.com is an African private sector led innovative, B2B and B2G multi-sector, industrial eCommerce Marketplace and FinTech platform. AfricaPLC aims to improve intra-African trade flows and provide solutions for cross-border payments as well as supply chain transparency. In addition, digital business tools for logistics such as eCertificates of Origin and access to trade intelligence and global markets are provided.
