
THEME: The Place of Trade Associations, Small and Micro Enterprise (SMEs) for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa
The path towards Africa Development for realizing the gain of
AfCFTA demands a place for inclusive growth for other agents of trade and
development such as small business enterprises, micro entrepreneurs as well as
trade associations. Knowing the
opportunities provided by big players in the system would be a huge motivator
to drive cooperation and partnership that promote inclusive growth and
accelerate the achievement of the post-pandemic recovery.
Statutorily speaking, Trade Associations
provide a collective voice for their members and a forum to solve common
problems driven by the objectives and laws establishing them. Rehashing the
essence of trade associations in the front burner for socio-economic
development in Nigeria and Africa in general at this time is quite imperative.
The roles for Economic Development and sustainability in
current times are beyond the confine effort of a single trade association,
individual or organization hence the clarion demand for a broad base
multi-stakeholder conference.
The Conference focuses on sustainability for trade associations, chambers of commerce and corporations in Nigeria with the aim to drive honest conversation and generate dialogue around critical issues. Conversations are weaved around some of the changes we see in today’s governance and leadership in a post-pandemic era; such as sovereign threat, deteriorating communities, challenging economic times across board, volatile gruesome events, a growing social divide, phobia and rapid-changing technology. Discovering strategies to subdue these risks will be a huge factor for business survival as we strove through the 21st century.
WHY INVOLVE MSMEs
Every entity operates under one economy which is practically
the ground of convergence. This mere
fact steers up interest for innovative approach which led to the birth of the Conference
of Nigeria Trade Associations in 2018, and has steadily become a
platform reckoned for driving sustainable development. We are inspired by
veritable achievement; share and believe in the Agenda 2030, as well as in the
Africa Agenda 2063.
Our research findings showed that one out of every four trades in Nigeria have a trade association, these findings propose trade associations as an increasing factor for business life and persuasive voice for development and sustainability in Nigeria. The ways and extent to which industry associations are recognized as representatives of their industry-by-industry members and other audience is an issue of concern. The debated issues that members want their trade association to be “tough in defending their interests” irrespective of constitutional legitimacy and existing codes of conduct, and whether members of a trade association need some degree of independent interactions with other associations is indeed pivotal. Again, the roles for Economic Development and sustainability are beyond the confine effort of a single trade association, individual or organization hence the clarion demand for a broad base multi-stakeholder conference. The theme of this year’s conference being 4th Edition is: Trade Associations, Small and Micro Enterprise (SMEs) for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa.
The Theme is set to address the given concerns at the 4th Edition rescheduled for November 24, 2022.
General Aims & Objective
The aim includes to:
·
Promote
the idea of building sustainable economic development among trade associations
and communications across diverse sectors and industry.
·
Identify
practical insights and tools to help associations assess emerging risks, define
their options and set priority in phases for inclusive growth.
·
To
identify leadership roles that promotes industry role towards inclusive socio-economic
development in Africa and in Nigeria in particular.
·
Analyse
how associations operate and how they can be expected to relate with their MSMEs
/corporate members.
·
Identify
tools of assessing sustainability practices of different trade associations and
chambers of commerce.
· Ascertain the most strategic challenges facing the informal sector as well as the appropriate solutions for inclusive economic growth and sustenance.
·
Learn
how Informal sector impacts on the nation’s gross domestic products year of
year.
·
Identify
the role of finance and other ancillary services in driving formalization of
informal enterprises.
·
Identify
key implications and opportunities for Associations in achieving the future we
want according to the Africa Agenda 2063 & UN Sustainable Development
Goals.
·
To
create a call to action, addressing association leaders and their boards to
understand how trends impact on their leadership, membership drive and
performers.
· Re-orchestrate an innovative platform that lends a collective voice for good governance, inclusive growth and shared prosperity
· Establish enabling policies and recommendations for good governance, inclusive growth and shared prosperity in Nigeria.
Sub-Theme for 2022:
- Overview of
trade associations; the case of Nigeria
- Strategies
for human development and protection of vulnerable populations
- Governance
for inclusive growth and shared propensity (with Case Study)
- Range of
CSR /Sustainability Engagement for Trade Associations
The inclusive way
to promote shared prosperity across trade associations in Nigeria
- Role,
challenges and opportunities of trade associations for economic
development
- Formalization of informal enterprises: Government Options and Partnership Window