The Government of Rwanda, in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA), will host the Trade Development Forum, bringing together senior government officials, development partners, academics, multilateral organisations, and private sector leaders from 14 TMA countries and beyond.

Set to take place in Kigali from December 2 to 3, this two-day forum, themed "Digital Trade,” will explore cutting-edge digital trade practices and technologies.

ALSO READ: A year of trading under AfCFTA – a Rwandan businesswoman’s story

Topics to be discussed include the interoperability of digital payments, the application of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and artificial intelligence in trade processes, and the role of automation in supporting green trade initiatives.

The discussions aim to leverage technology to streamline trade facilitation and strengthen policy frameworks across Africa.

ALSO READ: AfCFTA: Report outlines top four investment areas

David Beer, the CEO of TradeMark Africa, expressed excitement about the upcoming forum, emphasizing the organization&039;s commitment to Africa's economic growth.

"Africa’s economic prosperity is our business. TradeMark is entirely focused on delivering practical results to remove trade barriers and boost exports within and from Africa. While significant progress has been made, such as reducing transport times by about a third across the Northern Corridor in East Africa, there’s still a big leap ahead,” he said in a statment.

He added: "The 2024 forum will center on expanding digitization successes and introducing cutting-edge technologies. We look forward to sharing lessons and presenting innovative ideas to help governments and the private sector further reduce the cost and time of trade," he said.

ALSO READ: What can Rwanda do to reduce its trade deficit?

Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, Rwanda’s Minister for Trade and Industry, highlighted Rwanda's role as host, stating, "We are honored to host the Trade Development Forum, a symbol of our commitment to Rwanda’s and Africa’s economic development."

He added, "We are dedicated to realizing the vision of a seamlessly integrated Africa, a vision championed by our President in the formation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Initiatives like the Rwanda Electronic Single Window and Kigali Dry Port demonstrate how trade solutions can overcome geographical challenges and enhance our trade capabilities."

This is the sixth edition. Previous meetings took place in Kenya in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2019, and in Uganda in 2018.