Theo Clarke MP for Stafford was pleased to chair a Parliamentary roundtable on how Africa is delivering its new African Continental Free Trade Area trade pact and how G7 partners can best co-ordinate support. The event was hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trade out of Poverty, which Ms Clarke is a Co-Chair, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Africa, which Ms Clarke is a Vice-Chair.
The African Continental Free Trade Area helps boost Africa’s economic growth, generate jobs and reduce poverty, as well as increasing trade between Africa and the UK. The Government is committed to its full implementation and has already signed Free Trade Agreements with 16 African countries, increasing trade and jobs in both the UK and Africa.
Theo Clarke MP chaired the roundtable discussion and the panellists were:
- H.E Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area
- Ranil Jayawardena MP, UK Minister for International Trade
- Rep Gregory Meeks, Chair of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Maria Matin-Prat, Deputy Director-General for Trade, European Commission
- Dr Stephen Karingi, Director for Regional Trade and Integration, UNECA
