House Chairperson,
The ACDP believes that this AfCFTA Protocol on women and youth in trade, offers protections and opportunities. Simultaneously, bureaucratic inefficiencies, lack of trust in governments and logistical barriers must be overcome.
A UN report on youth trade barriers advocates for targeted interventions continent-wide, including youth-focused trade hubs and digital friendly platforms.
The ACDP is cognisant that informal cross-border traders are predominantly women who face harassment and extortion, often at the hands of border officials and criminal groups. We support targeted protections, to strengthen women participation, as they are often sole providers for their families.
The establishment of the AfCFTA Competition Authority and Tribunal is a step in the right direction. However, merger thresholds must be monitored and abuse of dominance, especially by digital gatekeepers, the large platforms controlling access to digital services and markets, must be avoided. These entities can stifle innovation and restrict consumer choice if left unchecked.
We commend the progress made by SA in closing gaps and aligning regulation but note that only 36 African countries have enacted data protection laws, and many lack enforcement capacity. Protocols must not be ratified without domestic preparedness, because a failure to align laws, institutions, and capacity for enforcement could result in the dilution of promises made and undermine trust in the AfCFTA.
The ACDP supports continental cohesion. SA must offer technical support, accelerating cross-Africa alignment and the beneficiation of our minerals. We support the ratification of these protocols.
I thank you.
