dyton mupawaenda
Business Reporter
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka is scheduled to headline the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Association of African Commodity Exchanges (A-ACX) annual conference to be held in Zimbabwe later this month.
In a major step towards strengthening intra-African trade and economic resilience, Zimbabwe was selected to host this year’s edition of the conference.
The Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX), in a statement, said the upcoming conference would take place from March 26-27 at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls.
The commodities exchange said preparations were progressing well.
“The event is shaping up to be a landmark programme, bringing together key industry players from across the continent. Minister Dr Masuka will be the esteemed guest speaker at the conference,” reads the statement.
ZMX said his presence underscored the importance of the event in advancing Africa’s agricultural and trade agenda and Zimbabwe’s commitment to fostering economic growth through commodity exchange platforms.
A delegation from the AfCFTA, led by the head of market access, directorate of trade in goods and competition, AfCFTA Secretariat, Joyce Letswalo, will also grace the conference.
Other key presenters include Ghana Commodity Exchange chief executive Tucci Ivowi, global expert in commodity trade and finance Mr Adam Gross, Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) chief executive officer Mr Tafadzwa Chinamo, Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) head of commodities in the capital markets division Anelisa Matutu, commodities and derivatives markets expert Dr Bharat Kulkarni and ZMX chief executive Mr Collen Tapfumaneyi.
“The theme for this year’s conference, ‘Scaling Intra-African Trade: Leveraging Commodity Exchanges for Economic Resilience and Growth’, highlights the role of commodity exchanges in strengthening regional trade and advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” explained ZMX.
“Delegates from all over the continent have already registered to attend, reflecting the growing interest in the discussions surrounding trade harmonisation, investment opportunities, supply chain development and policy frameworks to unlock Africa’s trade potential.
“The conference will serve as a vital platform for networking, business linkages, and strategic collaborations among policymakers, financial and logistics experts, and international organisations,” added ZMX.
ZMX said, as the host country, Zimbabwe was ready to showcase its contributions to Africa’s commodity markets, emphasising its innovative market structures and strategic policies aimed at enhancing agricultural and resource-based trade.
The event is expected to position Zimbabwe as a key player in intra-African commerce and attract investments into its key economic sectors.
The A-ACX, an alliance of commodity exchanges across Africa, was established to foster collaboration and alignment with AfCFTA’s broader goals of catalysing economic growth and promoting trade among African nations.
The association aims to play a pivotal role in advancing intra-African trade in commodities and related services, providing a platform for innovation, market development, and regional economic integration.
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