Event contact: Mathilde Emilie Thue
Welcome to a NABA webinar where we learn more about the second largest trade area in the world - the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). What is next for the AfCFTA? How will it change doing business on the continent?
Speakers
Ms. Dorothy Temb
Executive Director ad interim of the International Trade Centre
Ms. Dorothy Tembo has served as Executive Director ad interim of the International Trade Centre since January 2020. A Zambian national, Ms. Tembo was previously Deputy Executive Director of ITC from June 2014.
Prior to her roles at ITC, Ms. Tembo served as the Executive Director of the multi-donor funded Enhanced Integrated Framework Programme (EIF) at the World Trade Organization (WTO). During her tenure from October 2008 to 2013, Ms. Tembo spearheaded the relaunch of the programme, which supports least developed countries (LDCs) in addressing their trade-related technical assistance needs and supply side constraints.
From 2004 to 2008, Ms. Tembo served as Chief Trade Negotiator and Director of Foreign Trade in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia. One of her key responsibilities was to lead the Zambian technical team in its capacity as LDC co-ordinator during the WTO’s Hong Kong ministerial meeting which, among other issues, took decisions to extend duty- and quota-free market access to LDCs. This set in motion the Aid for Trade agenda and endorsed the commencement of the Enhanced Integrated Framework Programme.
In 2003 and 2004, Ms. Tembo served as a Trade and Investment Advisor on the USAID Zambia Trade and Investment Enhancement Project (ZAMTIE) project in Lusaka, providing support to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and the private sector.
Between 2000 and 2003, Ms. Tembo served as Deputy Team Leader on the USAID RAPID project in Botswana, which assisted Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries in the implementation of the SADC Trade Protocol, after having served in various positions in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, and Zambia's National Commission for Development Planning.
She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Zambia.
H.E. Wamkele Mene
Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat
Wamkele Mene was elected by the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States & Government of the African Union, to the position of Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
Prior to being elected Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, he served as Chief Director: Africa Economic Relations, at the Department of Trade & Industry of South Africa. In this role, he was South Africa’s chief trade negotiator in the AfCFTA and Tripartite FTA negotiations. During his tenure as chief negotiator, South Africa ratified both the AfCFTA and Tripartite FTAs agreements, providing new export markets in fast growing and dynamic markets in East and West Africa.
Prior to assuming this position, Wamkele was Director: International Trade Law & Investment Law at the Department of Trade & Industry, a role in which he was principal legal counsel on international trade law and international investment law.
From 2010 until 2015, Wamkele represented South Africa at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. During his posting to the WTO, Wamkele was elected by over 130 governments to the position of Chairman of the Committee on International Trade in Financial Services, a committee comprising trade negotiators, financial regulators and financial policy makers from over 160 countries.
Prior to joining the government, Wamkele worked for the law firms Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in London and Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP in Hong Kong.
Wamkele has written and lectured internationally on international trade law, international investment law and international business law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Law) degree from Rhodes University in South Africa, a Master of Arts in International Studies & Diplomacy (with specialization in International Economics) from the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London and a LL.M. (Master of Laws) in Banking Law & Financial Regulation from the Law Department of the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE).