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The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): A Developmental Free Trade Agreement
 

A conversation with

H.E. Wamkele Mene
Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

and

Lisa Sachs
Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Welcome by:
Dr. Katrina A. Armstrong
Interim President of Columbia University in the City of New York

The AfCFTA Agreement is designed to drive broader economic development and transform African economies through trade liberalization, enhancing competitiveness, attracting investment, and strengthening value chains across the continent. Covering a wide range of areas, including trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property rights, competition, and digital trade, the AfCFTA takes an inclusive approach with a dedicated protocol for women and youth in trade. This creates an enabling environment for investors targeting dynamic sectors that drive industrial and technological progress. Beyond serving as a trade facilitation rule book, the AfCFTA Agreement aims to tackle poverty, promote sustainable development, support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and foster economic integration and cooperation among African nations, making it a vital tool for Africa’s economic transformation.

Columbia University students are invited to participate in a moderated question and answer session.

This program is cosponsored by the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI).

Advanced registration is required for in-person attendance. Registration has closed. Please join us for the live stream on the World Leaders Forum Website.