Trade minister Lucia Iipumbu has emphasised the crucial role of women and youth in advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda.
Recognising the challenges faced by women and youth in trading across borders, the minister called for the development of protocols that address persistent obstacles and provide solutions for better border governance and trade facilitation.
She was speaking during the AfCFTA-SADC Regional Consultation Workshop on the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade and E-Commerce in Windhoek last week.
Namibia, as a state party to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, expressed its commitment to champion initiatives promoting women and youth participation in key sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and tourism.
The workshop aimed to generate actionable recommendations for empowering women and youth in trade and e-commerce, ensuring their inclusion in Africa’s transformative journey.
In her address, Iipumbu also highlighted the significance of youth and women in Africa’s economic integration agenda, stating, “Our large demographic majority of youth and women are at the centre of realising our regional and continental economic integration agenda. We, therefore, simply cannot afford to leave them behind”.
She stated that the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area recognises the role of women and youth in trade and the importance of empowering them to fully participate and benefit from it.
The minister further elaborated on the objectives of the protocols being developed, saying, “Women and youth can play a critical role in the achievement of the free trade zone by initiating youth-led initiatives, particularly in agriculture, financial services, information technology and in the creative industries.
“I believe the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade should address the persistent challenges faced by women in trade and provide solutions in terms of better border governance and trade facilitation.”
Highlighting Namibia’s commitment to promoting women and youth participation, she said, “Namibia, as a state party to the AfCFTA agreement and her offer within the SACU configuration has been adopted by the Council of Ministers... and is therefore ready to champion initiatives that target women and youth participation in key sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing logistics and tourism”.
Iipumbu also emphasised the importance of value chain development and the growth of sectors where women and youth have a competitive advantage.
“Namibia has identified key sectors where women and youth have a competitive advantage, such as agriculture, aquaculture, cosmetics sector, textiles, etc.”
The minister urged all stakeholders to actively contribute to the development of the protocols, and use such platforms to emerge with concrete plans of action and make actionable recommendations that will provide input in the development of the aforementioned protocols.