Digital TIPS forum 2020: Regional Industrial Development

The importance of regional industrial development is critical in the face of COVID-19 recovery plans. There is a need to look at approaches that would result in the strengthening of the industrial base across Africa. 

The Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) forum has been running almost every year since 1996 and the purpose of the forum has not changed in its effort to have policy relevant research presented and debated. This year’s forum, implemented in partnership with SA-TIED, features a number of topical issues relevant to regional industrial development, one of the themes of the SA-TIED programme Work Stream 6 entitled ‘Regional growth for southern Africa’s prosperity’. 

Aside from the keynote address, the themes and panel sessions for this year are the following:

SESSION 1: TRADE AND REFORM IN AFRICA 
SESSION 2: INCLUSIVE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 
SESSION 3: STRENGTHENING AND BUILDING REGIONAL VALUE CHAINS 
SESSION 4: SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 
SESSION 5: LOW-CARBON AND INCLUSIVE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 
SESSION 6: FINANCING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, THEORY, POLICY AND PRACTICE 

Having a virtual forum in 2020 has seen a broader audience joining who would not always be able to attend the event in person. Over 300 people registered for this forum – from across Africa and from across the world. In addition to delegates from across South Africa, there are delegates from Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eswatini, Lesotho, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Malawi as well as from Spain, Japan, USA, Brazil, France, Hong Kong and the UK.
 

See more on the event website