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The call was made during a youth and government consultative meeting on the AfCFTA Protocol on women and youth in trade, held today, Thursday June 22, in Windhoek, Namibia.
Running under the theme, “Promoting equitable youth outcomes in the AfCFTA through sustainable domestic resources mobilization and allocation,” the meeting attracted key Namibian Government officials, youth entrepreneurs, politicians and lawyers, as well as representatives from the African Union, the World Bank and and European Union.
Ms. Lucia Iipumbu, the Namibian Minister of Industrialization and Trade, noted that youths and women who make up Africa’s biggest demographic have continued to be left out in cross-border trade.
“Women and youth face various challenges in trading across the borders and are confronted by many barriers in trade such as complex export procedures, intimidation, extortion and harassment at the border especially in Africa,” she said.
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“The Protocol on women and youth should address these challenges and provide solutions in terms of better border governance and trade facilitation.”
Emma Kantema, the deputy minister for sports, youths and national service of Namibia also noted that while AfCFTA presents a great opportunity for African countries to boost intracontinental trade to drive economic growth and create jobs for millions of people, this cannot be realized if youths and women are left out.
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Emma Kantema, the Deputy Minister for sports, youths and national service of Namibia
“Today women and youth traders are less likely to be equipped with appropriate skills, technology and resources to fully reap the fruits of the (AfCTA) agreement,” she stressed.
“How can we say that we are fully embracing the trade area agreement when the largest demographic on the continent has limited participation in trade business and entrepreneurship, particularly on the export scale? We have to take steps to eliminate the barriers for youth and women.”
On his part, Allan Murangira, the team leader of Youth Tax for Justice Network, one of the conference organizers, thanked the Government of Namibia for playing a lead role on the continent in involving young people in key government positions.
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Allan Murangira , the team leader Youth for Tax Justice Network
“The Government of Namibia has been open accommodative and walked the talk in involving the youths to take decisions that matter; it is not an easy feat to have that level of political will in terms of the backing from political principles and commitment from the minister of industrialization,” he said
Murangira therefore, urged the participants to debate and come up with recommendations, especially on how member states can allocate more resources to support youths and women in business.