H.E. JESSICA ALUPO, VICE PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN DAR ES SALAAM AHEAD OF THE INAUGURAL AfCFTA CONFERENCE ON WOMEN AND YOUTH IN TRADE 12TH – 14TH SEPTEMBER 2022

H.E. Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, has today 11th September 2022, arrived in Dar es Salaam – United Republic of Tanzania to attend the AfCFTA Conference on Women and Youth in Trade, scheduled to take from 12th to 14th September 2022 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar-es-Salaam.

She was received on arrival by the Hon. Amb. Liberata Mulamula, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda’s High Commissioner, H.E. Col (Rtd) Fred Mwesigye at the Julius Nyerere International Airport.

The AfCFTA Conference on Women and Youth in Trade is being convened under the patronage of H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Champion of Women and Youth in Trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area. (AfCFTA)

The Conference, will be held under the theme “Women and Youth: The Engine of AfCFTA Trade in Africa”, and will provide a platform for women and youth in trade, policy makers, development partners, financiers, and other key stakeholders on the continent to discuss, in depth, perspectives on women and youth in trade.

The overall objective is to develop policy proposals for the draft Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade. The Conference is also expected to design concrete solutions that enhance the ability of women and youth to take advantage of opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.

H.E. the Vice President who is accompanied by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi Ongom will participate in panel discussions aimed at promoting Women in Business particularly in the Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) in critical sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing (clothing and textiles) and services (especially tourism), informal trading, and professional services in which women and youth are predominantly engaged, must be supported to thrive.

Other high level panelists who will take part in these deliberations include; H.E. Joyce Hilda Banda, Former President of the Republic of Malawi, H.E. Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia and H.E. Monique Nzanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.