The African Continental Free Trade Area is set to transform business and trade on the continent. The African Union held a forum in Windhoek, Namibia to highlight how small businesses can drive that change.

African Union Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Forum from 9-13 September gave small businesses a chance to refine their skills, pitch their businesses and network.

Under the theme of ‘Fostering financial empowerment and educational innovation for African startups and MSMEs’, the Forum offered entrepreneurs insights and connections to thrive in intra-African trade. Over 60 small businesses from the ICT, creative industries, agriculture, minerals, and manufacturing sectors participated.

The International Trade Centre (ITC), through its One Trade Africa initiative, led sessions with partners on youth empowerment, digital transformation and investment, and entrepreneurship.

Pitching African businesses

The Enterprise Africa Network Fellowship launched at the Forum, as part of the AU SME Strategy. This 12-month programme offers training and mentorship to 50 small businesses.

‘We look forward to seeing small businesses emerge from this programme with the skills, tools and connections they need to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area, to sell their goods across borders,’ said ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.

As a coaching partner of the Fellowship, ITC joined forces with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board to provide training on pitching, ahead of the Chelete Pitching Competition at the Forum.

Unlocking small business potential through tech

With Alibaba and the AUC, ITC conducted a workshop for African small businesses to receive the knowledge, skills and tools needed to harness e-commerce opportunities, with a focus on business-to-business platforms.

The session marked the first step in implementing the new Digital Innovation Accelerator for African MSMEs project supported by China International Development Cooperation Agency. The initiative will support online stores for 100 African small businesses, covering 1,000 products.

ITC also organized a session with the Afrikan Youth Business Council to explore educational technology and education for trade readiness in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The session showcased the latest educational technology, demonstrated online training platforms including the ITC-Afreximbank ‘How to Export with the AfCFTA’, and facilitated knowledge sharing among innovative startups.

Adam Alqali, President of the Council, encouraged young entrepreneurs to ‘explore the immense entrepreneurship opportunities offered by the still-evolving educational tech sector, a new and viable sector not only for promoting inclusive education and learning for all but also for wealth creation.’

Promoting competitiveness through quality infrastructure

On the sidelines of the Forum, ITC participated in the third Africa Quality Policy Council meeting. Key highlights included discussion on the Africa Quality Policy Action Plan and implementation of the African Continental Trade Facilitation Framework. ITC presented its collaborative work on quality with the AUC and Pan-African Quality Infrastructure, including the soon-to-be-released ‘Made in Africa’ concept testing and benchmarking study.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

In a stirring address at the United Nations “Summit of the Future” held at the UN Headquarters in New York, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made a passionate call for global unity, urging world leaders to adopt multilateral solutions to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change, inequality, and global governance reform.

Speaking to an assembly of Heads of State, government officials, and delegates from around the world, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the urgency of collective action, stating that the future is no longer distant but is here and now, shaped by the decisions made in this crucial moment.

“Our theme, ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow,’ reminds us that no nation, no matter how powerful, can solve today’s challenges alone,” the President remarked. He highlighted the global nature of current crises, from the climate emergency to terrorism, noting that these problems transcend national boundaries and require global cooperation.

President Akufo-Addo’s speech strongly condemned the resurgence of “irrational isolationism and blind nationalism” in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, the pandemic had revealed the interconnectedness of all nations and demonstrated that unilateral approaches to global challenges are doomed to failure.

At the heart of the President’s address was the growing climate crisis, with a particular focus on Africa’s disproportionate suffering. Despite contributing the least to global carbon emissions, Africa continues to bear the brunt of the devastating effects of climate change, from severe flooding to increasing desertification. He issued a clarion call for “climate justice,” insisting that Africa should not continue to pay the price for a crisis it did not create.

“We are told to ‘adapt’ and ‘be resilient,’ but how does one adapt to famine, or build resilience when farmers cannot predict the seasons?” President Akufo-Addo questioned. He went on to demand fairness and equity in the global fight against climate change, stressing that Africa’s need is for justice, not charity.

The President also addressed the widening inequality between rich and poor nations, underscoring that over 700 million people worldwide still live in extreme poverty, deprived of basic human rights. “The pandemic exacerbated this inequality, pushing millions more into poverty, while the wealth of the richest soared. This is unsustainable, and it is immoral,” he stated. He called for a new global economic order, one that promotes inclusivity and ensures that no nation is left behind.

One of the key issues raised by President Akufo-Addo was the need for reform of the United Nations Security Council, which he described as an “outdated, post-Second World War relic.” He highlighted the glaring underrepresentation of Africa, home to 1.4 billion people, in the Council and called for the implementation of the Ezulwini Consensus, which outlines Africa’s position on UN reform.

“Africa’s voice must be heard in shaping the future of global peace and security,” the President stated firmly, adding that the current global governance structure is rooted in an unjust and unequal world order. He called for bold reforms that would ensure every nation, regardless of its size or wealth, has an equal voice on the world stage.

Concluding his speech, President Akufo-Addo urged leaders to act with urgency and determination, noting that future generations would judge the current leadership by its actions. “The world is watching. The future is watching. We cannot be the generation that stood by as the world burned, while inequality widened, and promises of justice went unfulfilled.”

With a resounding call for bold, decisive action, President Akufo-Addo’s address encapsulated the spirit of the summit’s theme—multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow—and challenged the international community to rise to the occasion.

As the world continues to grapple with crises that demand global solutions, the President’s speech served as a reminder of the necessity of cooperation and the shared responsibility to secure a better future for all.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., has announced the initiation of an Annual National Diaspora Dialogue aimed at forging a collective approach to national development.

Speaking to hundreds of Diaspora Liberians on Staten Island in New York on Saturday, September 21, 2024, the President highlighted the potential benefits of coordinated engagement between Liberians in the Diaspora and those at home.

He expressed the government’s desire to enhance the effectiveness and reach of the Diaspora Office in its interactions with Liberians abroad and acknowledged the significant role played by Liberians outside of Liberia in supporting the nation, especially during challenging times.

He further emphasized that a more focused administration of Diaspora relations with the Government and the country at large would yield substantial benefits in trade, tourism, education, business, and national harmony.

The gathering, hosted at Curtis High School, brought together Liberians from various parts of the United States, as well as state and municipal officials from New York and Staten Island.

Welcoming the attendees, Mr. Erasmus Williams, Coordinator of the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, announced the formation of a Steering Committee to oversee Diaspora affairs.

The committee, co-chaired by Mr. Charles Blake of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diaspora Office, includes representatives from the Liberian Legislature, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, the Liberian Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization for Migration, the Liberian US umbrella Organization, Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), and other Civil Society Organizations.

Coordinator Williams also disclosed the establishment of a Planning Committee for the Diaspora Liberians Annual Return 2024 (D-LAR24), with Dr. Clarice F. Kulah of Georgia as the Chairperson and Mr. Emmanuel S. Wettee of Ohio as the Co-chair. Other members of the Planning Committee named by Coordinator Williams are: Ms. Robena L. Vincent, Ambassador Edwin Yarngo, Ms. Hesta Baker, Ms. Kambleh Russ, Ms. Mai Urey, Ms. Joyce Seyon, and Colorado State Representative of the 40th District Naquetta Ricks.

Mr. Williams stated that the goal of the Diaspora Liberians Annual Return 2024 (D-LAR24) is to showcase Liberia’s potential as a world-class destination and to reconnect people with Liberian heritage.

The event, to be held at the end of the year, will feature activities such as the Diaspora Investment Forum, Liberian Cultural Showcase, Tours and Site Visits, Business Networking, Youth Engagement and Skills Development, Nationwide Heritage Match, and Sports Events including soccer matches and track and field.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., on Sunday, September 22, 2024, challenged the comity of nations to act collectively in confronting issues that are undermining the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Delivering a compelling address at the Summit of the Future, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the President urged world leaders to join forces in addressing the global economic problems undermining the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

He emphasized the urgent need for collaborative action to make the world a better place for everyone.

He also cited the disparities highlighted in the Human Development Report, underscoring the importance of overcoming inequalities and political divisions that are holding back progress.  

The President provided an update on Liberia’s efforts to achieve the SDGs, emphasizing the country’s commitment to promoting good governance, reducing waste and corruption, and utilizing resources effectively in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

Speaking on the theme, “Transforming Global Governance and Turbocharging the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, the Liberian Leader stressed that the current situation requires decisive action, urging that “We need to address our common challenges together and overcome the obstacles that are holding back our progress.”

Furthermore, President Boakai called for a transformation of global governance to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, accentuating the need for a financial system that prioritizes liquidity and reduces the burden on developing nations.

He urged the international community to take bold measures to alleviate economic pressures faced by vulnerable nations.

In conclusion, President Boakai echoed the necessity of reforming financial systems to achieve sustainable development and turbocharge the achievement of the SDGs, accentuating the critical message conveyed by prevailing developmental challenges.  

The Liberian Chief Executive expressed the hope that his rallying call for global collaboration and decisive action to confront economic challenges resonated with leaders in attendance, underlining the significance of collective efforts in driving positive change on the international stage.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.