More than 1.8 billion adults still lack access to banking services or receive subpar financial products and services, which prevents them from taking advantage of economic opportunities, leaves them vulnerable to shocks, and puts them at risk of permanent debt or even modern slavery.
AfCFTA: How Intellectual Property Laws Can Help Create Jobs
The Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is ambitious. Bringing together 55 African Union member states, it will form the world’s largest free trade area by the number of participating countries. The Agreement covers trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy. The Phase II negotiations of the agreement hold many opportunities, particularly for Intellectual Property (IP). A strong IP regime across the continent will facilitate the growth of MSMEs and will lead to increased job creation especially for women and the youth.