B&FT Editorial: Accra hosts Institute of Logistics and Transport's annual Africa Forum

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport officially launched its annual Africa Forum 2020, to be hosted in Accra.

The Forum seeks to give government, corporate, students and individuals the needed platform to share, learn and promote professional and business interests, since over 300 delegates from the continent and rest of the world are expected to attend.

The much anticipated forum will be held from 18-20 March at the prestigious La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel and is expecting over 300 delegates.

The theme of the conference is 'Sustainable Implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement: The Role of Logistics, Transport and Industry' and comes in the wake of AfCTA coming into force this year, specifically in July.

Since Accra is billed to host the AfCTA Secretariat, it is most appropriate that the forum which focuses on AfCTA should be held in Ghana's capital city as a precursor to deepening intra-African trade.

President- CILT, Ebo Hammond, said the forum will equally highlight challenges for government and businesses in the advent of AfCTA, this is equally important because there are two sides to a coin.

Therefore, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other recognised economic bodies believe AfCTA could be a game-changer, it is also important to weigh up the cons. AfCTA can serve as a new engine of growth across the continent, and logistics, transport and industry in general have a major role to play in its success and sustainability.

Thus, we are all looking forward to the Forum, which promises to be a major event that will usher in AfCTA and make for great optimism among African governments and the business community. With intra-regional trade as low as 16 percent of international export trade, there is a lot to discuss and contemplate.