Ethiopia will host the 2019 edition of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF), state affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported on Wednesday. Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa will host the WEDF 2019 edition from November 19-22.

The forum which will bring together hundreds of business leaders, policymakers and trade development officials to address international business competitiveness issues is expected to further increase the international investment profile of Ethiopia, reported FBC.

WEDF will coincide with the Africa Industrialization Week, with sessions designed to help business make the most of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), reported FBC.

The AfCFTA, which was signed by 44 African countries when it was launched in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, in March 2018, aspires to create a tariff-free continent that can grow local businesses, boost intra-African trade, spur industrialization and create more jobs. The AfCFTA is expected to take effect later this year.

The continental free trade pact paves the way for accelerating the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African customs union, according to the African Union.

Past editions of WEDF have included trade related topics including investing in value addition, addressing the skills mismatch, making the most of free trade deals, business to business matchmaking platforms and sustainable packaging.

The Ethiopia Ministry of Trade and Industry and the International Trade Center will co-host the 2019 World Export Development Forum, which is expected to take place at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

WEDF is a global forum dedicated to supporting export-led development schemes of developing countries, providing issue-focused platform for policymakers, trade support institutions and business people to gain practical understandings in global export competitiveness. 

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