The African Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) Conference convened by the AfCFTA Secretariat in partnership with the Ghana Investment Promotion Agency and the Government of Ghana is a crucial platform in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly with the advent of the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment. This landmark protocol, adopted in February 2023, represents a significant stride towards harmonizing investment regulations across the continent, creating a more predictable and attractive investment environment.

The AfCFTA’s Vision for Investment:

The AfCFTA solidifies Africa’s vision for a Single African Market, encompassing over 1.3 billion consumers and a combined GDP surpassing $3.4 trillion. It aims to facilitate and promote intra-African investment, driving economic growth and sustainable development across the continent. However, navigating Africa’s investment landscape presents inherent challenges, ranging from infrastructure deficits and regulatory complexities to disparities in access to skilled labor.

The AfCFTA Protocol on Investment seeks to address these challenges, providing a cohesive framework to streamline the diverse rules governing investments across different African countries. Its primary objective is to promote, facilitate, protect, and retain investments that are aligned with sustainable development goals. By standardizing investment regulations, the Protocol aims to alleviate investor concerns and attract a broader spectrum of potential investors to various African markets.

The African IPA Conference: A Pivotal Platform:

The African IPA Conference serves as a pivotal platform for Investment Promotion Agencies to converge, share insights, and strategise on leveraging the AfCFTA Protocol for the benefit of the continent. It provides a unique opportunity for these agencies to familiarize themselves with the Protocol’s provisions, understand its implications for their work, and devise innovative strategies to attract responsible and inclusive investments.

Promoting Responsible Investment: The Investment Protocol introduces innovative provisions on investor obligations, advocating for responsible investment practices and adherence to robust governance standards. This focus on responsible and inclusive investment is crucial, as it ensures that the influx of investments contributes positively to the sustainable development of the continent. Investment Promotion Agencies play a critical role in this regard, as they are at the forefront of engaging with investors and ensuring that investments align with the continent’s development objectives.

Programme:

Session One: AfCFTA Protocol on Investment: The New Landscape for Investments in Africa

• Presenter: Mrs. Emily Njeri Mburu-Ndoria, Director, Directorate of Trade in Services, Investment, IPR and Digital Trade, AfCFTA Secretariat.
• Key Discussion Points:
  • Introduction to the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment as a foundational standard for a new era of investment governance in Africa.
  • Historical background of the Protocol.
  • Exploration of innovative provisions within the Protocol that address global investment challenges.
  • Understanding the relationship between the Protocol and other investment governance regimes, both within and outside Africa.
  • Implications of the Protocol for investors on the continent.
• Moderator: MC

Session Two: Investment Trends and Opportunities

• Presenter: Mrs. Patience Okala, Expert Investment Advisor, Directorate of Trade in Services, Investment, IPR and Digital Trade, AfCFTA Secretariat.
• Key Discussion Points:
  • Analysis of global and regional investment flows, trends, and sectors.
  • Strategies applied by leading investment recipients.
  • Setting best practices and benchmarks for future discussions.
• Moderator: MC

Session Three: Investment Promotion, Facilitation, and Sustainable Development under the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment

• Presenter: Mrs. Roslyn Ng’eno, Senior Investment Expert, Directorate of Trade in Services, Investment, IPR and Digital Trade, AfCFTA Secretariat.
• Moderator: Ms. Afua Tekyi-Mills, Head, Corporate Affairs Division, GIPC
• Key Discussion Points:
  • The role of investment facilitation and sustainable development in the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment.
  • Balancing rights and obligations of investors and host countries.
  • Addressing the growing appetite for investment promotion and the dissatisfaction from failed investments.

Session Four: Strengthening the Association of African IPAs

• Panelists: Representatives from IPAs of DR Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Namibia.
• Moderator: Mr. R. Yofi Grant, CEO, GIPC
• Key Discussion Points:
  • Finalizing the draft statutes of the Association of African Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs).
  • Receiving input, deliberations, and endorsements from participating IPAs.
  • Formal adoption of the agreed statutes.

Session Five: Parallel Interactive Workshops and Training Sessions

• Workshop Topics: Agribusiness, Tourism Sector, Digital Trade, and Climate Change and Related Areas.
• Moderators and Presenters: Various, including Mr. Komla Bissi, Mr. Miller Matola, Ms. Sabine Mensah, and Mr. Matthew Stephenson.
• Key Discussion Points:
  • Enhancing sustainable investments in various sectors including agriculture, tourism, digital trade, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
  • Sharing best practices, strategies, and case studies from different African countries.

Session Six: Investment Policy Dialogue and Advocacy & Investment Protection and Legal Frameworks

• Presenters: Prof. Melaku Geboye Desta and Prof. Paul Idornigie (SAN)
• Moderators: Mrs. Patience Okala and Ms. Hajja Gana Wakil
• Key Discussion Points:
  • Addressing policy challenges and regulatory barriers affecting investment attraction and growth.
  • Protecting sustainable investments and understanding the interface between various investment laws and regulations.
  • Proposing recommendations for reforms and strategic actions to increase participation of African investors.