The first two legal instruments for launching the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), along with the Kigali Declaration, have just been signed. What happens next and when can real trade benefits be expected? What exactly is the AfCFTA? What are the long-terms plans behind this initiative? The Durban Chemicals Cluster (DCC) welcomes Trudi Hartzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of the Trade Law Centre (Tralac), to discuss this pivotal change promoting intra-continental trade and investment in order to highlight how this agreement is set to impact local manufacturing and production.  

In addition, the DCC hosts Lubin Ozoux, Director for International Business at Sumitomo Rubber to share Sumitomo’s experience with leveraging African markets for economic growth. Sumitomo Rubber has successfully penetrated the African market with high export volumes to a large number of different African countries. Their business in Africa has come with its own set of challenges, hurdles and successes.

The programme will include: