GIPC boss Yofi Grant speaks on investment, trade at a forum in S outh Africa

As part of his e orts to promote the coordination of intra Africa trade among African Investment Promotion Agencies, the CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr Yo Grant, will be participating in a round table discussion on the theme “ Building Synergies in Investment Promotion and Facilitation: The AfCFTA Protocol on Investment” at the ongoing AfCFTA Business Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

aging AfCFTA preferences.

Case study: Volkswagen’s success German auto giant Volkswagen, already a key player on the continent, has recognised the potential of the AfCFTA to catalyse local production of automotives and meet local demand.

To date, the company has successfully established local assembly operations in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana as well as two wholly-owned subsidiaries in Rwanda and Ghana.

The company attributes its success in Africa thus far to its collaboration with African governments in developing and implementing automotive policies in their respective countries, including South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, Egypt and Kenya.

Volkswagen recognises that the increase in local manufacturing requires di erent levels of investment and depends on consistent, enabling industrial policies with access to local markets — which it sees as a major bene t of the AfCFTA. The key industry trends reviewed here and the opportunities opening up as a result of the AfCFTA, coupled with Volkswagen’s experience of success, provide a powerful case for new investors to move into the automotive sector and thus help drive and transform economies across the continent..

tion with existing national and regional Investment Promotion Agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Zeepay

The AfCFTA Business Forum organized under the patronage of the Government of the Republic of South African is intended to enable the private sector to unlock trade and investment opportunities presented by the AfCFTA in order to boost trade.

The session will take a deep-dive into the provisions in the protocol on investment related to promotion and facilitation, and their relevance to IPAs, especially within the context of the Pan-African Trade Investment Agency, established within the protocol to assist State parties in the promotion and facilitation of investments in collabora-

The forum brings together African global business executives, strategic investors, nancial institutions, investment promotion agencies, business councils, chambers of commerce, multinational corporations, Africa women and youth business organizations, as well as Heads of State and Government.