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ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO participated in a landmark summit this week to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Convened by the African investor (Ai), the Summit brought together the heads of global trade organizations and recognized the importance of pioneering partnerships and collaboration with the private sector and international organizations to restore confidence and trade flows in the fight against COVID-19, and to promote commercial resilience in anticipation of future pandemics. The importance of accelerating the adoption of African innovation in e-commerce, paperless customs, and RegTech was also high on the agenda.
“We are delighted to partner with investors in Africa” Mr. Denton said. “ICC remains committed to addressing issues affecting the private sector in Africa through pioneering collaboration and our growing presence and reach on the continent.”
The Summit was chaired by Hubert Danso President, CEO and President of Africa Investor (Ai), President of the African Union Continental Business Network (CBN). Participants included Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organization (WCO), Yonov Frederick Agah, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization (WTO ), Vinco David, Secretary General, Berne Union and Hennie Heymans, CEO, DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa.
The Summit, which took place on April 30, highlighted the urgent need for harmonized regulation to help the African private sector, in particular SMEs, to digitize their businesses, to be able to trade and compete in the ‘Contactless Economy after COVID-19 ‘, where’ Commercial and customs distance ‘will be the new normal.
The African Private Sector AfricaPLC Industrial Electronic Commerce Platform initiative was well received as a critical enabler of African Electronic Commerce and Finance. The initiative is supported by ICC, Ai, DHL, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), Standard Bank, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) Continental Business Network (CBN), ABSA and Trade Development Bank.
The virtual summit saw leaders’ commitment to collaborate on a series of trade initiatives to combat COVID-19 and build trade resilience in Africa, in support of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
