News

The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) will host a Regional Policy Forum on ‘Value Chain Development, Trade, and Economic Transformation’ on 12 March 2025, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The forum will bring together key stakeholders to leverage research evidence from the Value Chain Development, Trade, and Economic Transformation in Africa (GVC) collaborative project and drive positive policy adoption and actions crucial for economic transformation across the continent.

Economic diversification, particularly through value-addition to natural and agricultural resources and export-oriented production, is essential for transforming African economies. With the potential that this approach has for greatly increasing jobs and reducing poverty, the increase in Global Value Chains (GVCs) and Regional Value Chains (RVCs) offers a timely opportunity, particularly because Africa’s need for natural resources is increasing, and cities are growing. Furthermore, the rising consumer demand for processed goods within the continent highlights the need to focus on value chains as key drivers of resource-based industrial development.

Under the theme, Enhancing Africa’s Competitiveness and Participation in Global Value Chain’, the hybrid forum brings key stakeholders in the value chain and trade space across Africa and the globe including African government representatives, private sector investors and practitioners, regional and continental organizations (AU, AfCFTA Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Development partners (AFDB, World Bank, UNCTAD, UNIDO), donors and international organizations, academia and think tanks and the civil society.  

The forum is structured into four key engaging sessions designed to look at the opportunities and challenges that are essential to achieve a realistic understanding of the position of Africa in both regional and global value chains. 

Synthesis Paper Presentation

Chair: Prof. Alemayehu Geda, Professor of Macroeconomics & International Economics, Department of Economics, Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopia.

High-Level Value Chain and Trade Practitioners Panel

Panelists:

• Mr. Ato Ewnetu Taye, Country Director, Trademark Africa, Ethiopia 
• Ms. Sharon Modiba, Chief Economist, The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), South Africa 
• Mr. William Komu, Director of Economic Planning, International Frameworks Coordination Division (IFCD), State Department of Economic Planning, The National Treasury and Economic Planning, Kenya 
• Dr. Birasa Nyamulinda, Research Director, Economic Policy Research Network (EPRN), Rwanda

Policy Paper Presentations

Chair Group I: Dr. Josaphat Kweka, Lead Consultant and CEO, Talanta International

Chair Goup II: Dr. Mengesha Yayo, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

High-Level Value Chain and Trade Policy Panel

Panelists:

• Ms. Diane Sayinzonga, Chief, UNCTAD Regional Office for Africa, Ethiopia 
• Mr. William Agyei-Manu, Vice President, All Africa Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (AAASME), West Africa Region & Chairman, Agribusiness Sector, The Association of Ghana Industries -AGI, Ghana 
• Mr. Okesade Olajide Mamud, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperative and Industry, Oyo State, Nigeria 
• Hon. Dr. Abdullah Makame, East African Legislative Assembly. Arusha, Tanzania

It is expected that the value chain and trade practitioners and the high-level policy panels will provide an incisive platform for peer learning and sharing experiences and suggestions of potential pathways for hastening policy action related to value chain and trade across the African continent. 

Register Now to confirm participation. For more information, please visit the AERC Regional Policy Forum.

Press Attendance and Coverage

Journalists are invited to cover this event and participate in the networking session.

For further details or to confirm attendance, please contact:

 

Media Contacts

Senvy Maistry

Mobile: +254 (0) 700 691 503

Email: senvy.maistry@aercafrica.org 

 

Lydiah N. Auma

Mobile: +254 (0) 722759070

Email: lydiah.auma@aercafrica.org

 

About AERC

Established in 1988, AERC is a premier capacity-building institution in the advancement of research and graduate training in economics to inform economic policies in sub-Saharan Africa. Through research, training and policy outreach, the AERC integrates economic policy research, postgraduate training and policy outreach within a network of researchers, universities and policy makers in Africa and worldwide.