Journalists form network to promote trade, development in Africa

Journalists across the African continent have formed a network with an objective to promote the trade and development agenda across the continent.

The group, Journalists for Trade and Development in Africa (J-Trade Africa), brings together journalists from the continent who will report on trade matters, share information and disseminate the same to their readers and viewers in their respective countries.

The body, first of its kind in the continent, will focus on helping its members develop  capacity to write about trade and also other development issues with a focus on the proposed establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) by 2017.

Experts have been meeting in Addis Ababa since last Monday September 24, 2012 discussing various topics geared towards strengthening trade among African countries.

The experts drawn from all African countries have been trying to crack the way forward for the proposed CFTA by the continent’s heads of state in their 18th Ordinary session.

On Wednesday  September 26, during a break-out session on Perspectives on CFTA at the Second Africa Trade Forum (ATF II) the need to have a structured way to relate with the media arose and participants expressed their support for such a formal way to involve journalists in the dialogue on trade.

The journalists’ body will partner with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Africa Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and other continental bodies to write informative stories on trade and development.

The group will be steered by Ghana Business News founder and Editor, Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, who in the interim assumes the post of President of the network.

The interim Vice-Presidents are Moses-Micheal Phiri from Malawi and Baye Coulibaly  from Mali.

By Jeremiah Kiplan’gat