The integration of African economies into global trade and investment systems means that African leaders and governments have an expanding menu of foreign policy choices to support the pursuit of their domestic developmental ambitions.
Emerging economies from around the world are developing their political and economic relations with African states in pursuit of complex strategic goals, including access to natural resources and influence. The opportunities that these bilateral arrangements present for African economies are underpinned by multilateral trade and investment agreements at a regional level. Some of these are longstanding, such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and continue to operate alongside more recent agreements, including the fledgling African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For African governments and regional bodies to effectively navigate these bilateral, multilateral, regional and international relationships to deliver developmental benefits for citizens, there must be broad public understanding of what these external interests are, and what can be positively achieved from international relationships.
This hybrid event will support governments’ foreign policy decision making and strategic planning by looking at how regional trading blocs and national governments engage with their international partners, and how they seek to derive national benefit by leveraging both regional and international partnerships.
