Date: 26 March, 2017

Venue:  King Fahd Hotel, B05 + B06

Time: 11:30 – 13:30

Background:

Given the importance of trade and investment in structural transformation, African leaders have resolved to create a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) as a stimulus to intra-African trade, on the one hand, and to develop a Pan African Investment Code (PAIC) with a view to promoting and attracting investment for growth and sustainable development of Africa, on the other.

The overarching objective of the Code is to achieve growth that is more inclusive and widespread through promotion and protection of investments, leading not just to equality of treatment and opportunity for investors, but also to reduction of investment and trade barriers. The Code is to be seen, therefore, as a powerful guiding instrument that can be used in CFTA negotiations in the perspective of building a conducive environment for the development of a more vibrant and dynamic private sector that promotes intra-African trade and facilitates job creation.

Objective:

The main objective of the high level event, is to raise awareness on the huge development potential of the PAIC as an instrument aiming to promote an attractive investment climate and expand intra-African trade.  The event will provide evidence based information to policymakers and other stakeholders on the relevance of the PAIC how can be used in the Investment Chapter of the CFTA process to avoid duplication of efforts and policy strengthen coherence.

Target audience

-          Officials of the ministries of economy, finance, economic planning and trade

-          National and regional planners

-          Investors

-          Civil society and the private sector

-          Policy makers

For further information, please contact:

 LIWAEDDINEF@africa-union.org and Tumuhimbisec@africa-union.org