Africa in the multilateral trading system: Choices and Challenges - MC14 Civil Society Dialogue

This dialogue will convene African civil society leaders and experts to discuss how the multilateral trading system can be reshaped to support Africa’s industrialisation, digital transformation, and sustainable development, including in agriculture, natural resources, and climate action.

MC14 accreditation allows access to the Civil Society Dialogue. The Civil Society Dialogue requires a separate registration for non-accredited participants. 

Programme

Welcome remarks

10:00-10:10

Salle Inaugurale

Speaker

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Director-General, World Trade Organization

Keynote address

10:10-10:20

Salle Inaugurale

Panel 1

Industrialisation, Digitisation, Development

10:20-11:30

Salle Inaugurale

This panel will examine how the multilateral trading system can better support Africa’s structural transformation in an era of rapid technological change. Panellists will explore the role of trade rules, regional integration, and digitalisation in advancing industrialisation, value addition, and inclusive growth, and will consider how global and regional trade frameworks can be made more responsive to Africa’s development priorities.

Speaker

Kholofelo Kugler

Head of Trade Law, Besso

Speaker

Dr. Edward K. Brown

Senior Director, Research, Policy & Programs, African Centre for Economic Transformation

Speaker

Patrick Ndzana Olomo

Director Economic Development Integration and Trade and Head of Economic Policy and Sustainable Development, African Union

Moderator

Dr. Yungong Theophilus Jung

Interim Executive Director, AFRODAD

Break

11:30-11:40

Salle Inaugurale

Panel 2

Agriculture, Resources, Climate

11:40-12:50

Salle Inaugurale

This panel will focus on the intersection between trade, agriculture, natural resources, and climate action in Africa. The discussion will address how global trade rules and policies can help African economies move beyond commodity dependence, support sustainable agricultural transformation, and align trade frameworks with Africa’s climate priorities and development needs.

Speaker

Jane Seruwagi Nalunga

Executive Director, Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI)

Speaker

Sebastian Mathew

Independent adviser, Small-scale fisheries

Speaker

Efraim Gomez

Director Global Policy Impact, WWF International

Moderator

Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder

Vice-President, Global Strategies and Managing Director, Europe, IISD

Closing

12:50-13:00

Salle Inaugurale

More

14th WTO Ministerial Conference

Disclaimer

This event has been organized under the WTO Secretariat's own responsibility. It does not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of WTO members and it is without prejudice to their rights and obligations under the WTO agreements.

Problems viewing this page? If so, please contact [email protected] giving details of the operating system and web browser you are using.

About WTO

The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. More