Stakeholder Engagement: NACCIMA at the AfCFTA Digital Trade Workshop

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  • October 22, 2024
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As part of its commitment to safeguarding the interests of Nigeria’s organized private sector, NACCIMA participated in the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) capacity-building workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement’s Protocol on Digital Trade and its draft annexes.

The workshop, held on October 16-17, 2024, in Abuja, focused on educating stakeholders about the details of the annexes tied to the AfCFTA’s digital trade framework. Representing NACCIMA were Kunle Fadare and Ifeoma Ozue. Our goal was to ensure that the protocol’s provisions align with the evolving needs of businesses, especially as digital trade becomes increasingly significant for businesses of all sizes.

Ambassador Yonov Fred Agah, Director-General and Chief Trade Negotiator, opened the event by encouraging stakeholders to deepen their understanding of the annexes. He emphasized that the workshop presented a valuable opportunity for input on areas where Nigeria has raised concerns, in line with directives from the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

The discussions at the workshop were enriched by insights from key figures such as Mr. Yau Isa Garba, Deputy Director for E-Government and Digital Economy at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Dr. Tsotetsi Makong, Chief Technical Advisor at the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra. Together, they highlighted the transformative potential of digital trade in unlocking new opportunities for firms across all sectors, consumers, and countries at various stages of development.

For NACCIMA, these conversations are critical, as digital trade will play a pivotal role in the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses in the global market. It was important that the draft annexes being negotiated fully address Nigeria’s reservations to ensure that our private sector can harness the full benefits of AfCFTA’s digital trade provisions.

The outcome of the workshop was encouraging. Stakeholders agreed that the draft annexes provide comprehensive responses to Nigeria’s concerns, even as negotiations continue. Inputs from participants across ministries, departments, agencies, and the private sector were incorporated, setting the stage for further discussions at the next AfCFTA Committee meeting on Digital Trade.

The sessions, facilitated by experts from the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, were instrumental in shaping a well-rounded understanding of digital trade. NACCIMA’s active participation underscores our role in ensuring that the interests of our members are represented and that Nigerian businesses remain competitive as digital trade policies evolve under AfCFTA.

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