Addis Ababa, 30 June 2021, ECA – The United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) is holding today a virtual roundtable, ‘Levelling the Playing Field for Intra-Africa Investment through the African Continental Free Trade Area’. The objective of the roundtable is to promote and share experiences on pooled investment and procurements in the Pharmaceutical sector in Africa.
The event will bring together key government leaders, policymakers, private sector investors, development partners and the media, among other stakeholders, from various regions of the world, to discuss and pave the way for sustainable investment in the Pharmaceutical sector in the African region in the wake of the COVID- 19 pandemic.
The Meeting will tackle various issues, including digital technologies to help Africa deliver better on its development agenda, investment opportunities available for the private sector during the COVID-19 and post-pandemic period, galvanise private sector investment to manufacture medicines and products to improve health outcomes; among other issues.
Key speakers will include Dr. Daniel Ngamije, Rwandan Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla, South Africa’s Deputy Minister, Department of Health; Dr. Mercy M. Mwangangi, from CBS- Kenya; Mr. Evaristo Jose Madime, Chairman and CEO of Sociedade Moçambicana de Medicamentos, Dr. Amit Thaker, President of Africa Healthcare Federation, Ms. Barbara Nel, Country President of the African Cluster of AstraZeneca and many others.
The African Continental Free Area (AfCFTA) - anchored single market aims at creating sustainable investment and employment opportunities for Africa by pooling procurement processes to attract favourable prices, which will, in turn, facilitate the development of private-sector economic activities and create job opportunities for millions of Africans, especially the women and youths.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org