Economic Diplomacy in Trade and Investment

Statement of need

Economic diplomacy is one critical opportunity African governments must tap into and identify mitigation strategies against the challenging economic environment. This requires strengthening the capacity of African Trade Officials to comprehend issues at stake, negotiate and expand their national trade interests within their jurisdiction of accreditation in seeking out and expanding markets for their goods and services, and procuring investment as well as rationalizing operational aspects of their governmental system as against the changed structure of conducting international diplomacy.

The course is designed to give Officials a sound understanding of the key issues involved in economic diplomacy, ongoing trade arrangements, commercial diplomacy and the techniques employed by diplomats to advance their state’s commercial interests. It will examine the various facets of the dynamics of international trade. It will clarify the major issues involved in international trade and trade-related issues and develop an understanding of the role of diplomatic missions in promoting business, attracting investments and facilitating trade. It will demonstrate an understanding of the primary issues and conflicts, which usually influence the formation of international trade policies in consideration of restructured roles of various actors including non-traditional actors in diplomacy. 

Objectives

• Acquire an orientation of key transformations that have occurred in international diplomacy over the years
• Secure an in-depth understanding of the roles and the growing influence of actors in the sphere of international policymaking and how they apply and affect Africa
• Identify and secure an in-depth understanding of drivers behind emerging issues shaping international economic agenda as well as international trade dynamics in Africa.
• Demonstrate a conceptual and practical appreciation of the opportunities, challenges and initiatives at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels within the context of African countries and the world at large.
• Critically analyses the current trade-related constraints halting the harnessing of opportunities from intra-African trade and associated initiatives advanced.
• critically examine and evaluate issues of trade and investment in developing countries
• to develop an understanding of the role of diplomatic missions in promoting business and trade amidst transformations in the changing global economic environment.

Content

To facilitate the attainment of the highlighted outcomes, the following training will cover the following topic areas:

• The concept of economic diplomacy and its operation in the 21^st century (the shift from political to economic diplomacy).
• Economic diplomacy as a matter of concern for all government ministries, agencies, and departments.
• The role of state and non-state actors and how the economic diplomatic system works in the development of regional and “whole of country policies.”
  • The interface between Chambers of Commerce and Ministries of Trade, and Foreign Affairs as well as diplomatic missions in the commercial and economic arena.
• The role of global enterprises in economic diplomacy and policy making
• The regulatory environment and economic diplomacy in the domestic context.
  • The role of diplomacy in trade enhancement and export promotion;
  • The role of diplomacy in investment enhancement and business delegations;
  • The extent and consequences of ‘managed trade,’ dumping and complaints procedures; Sector targeting in economic diplomacy
• Tools and levels of economic diplomacy.
• Economic Diplomacy in the context of international decision-making processes
  • Conference Diplomacy and negotiating resolutions at a Multilateral, Continental, and Regional Level: Case Study of Trade Facilitation Agreement; the AfCFTA and the EAC.
• Diplomatic Communication skills and etiquette.
• Effective negotiation skills, leadership skills and negotiating Trade Agreements.
• Simulations and the practice of economic diplomacy from theory to practice – case studies

Target Group

This course is intended for audiences working involved in the active regulation of markets both at the horizontal and vertical levels of government, ministries, parastatals and agencies dealing with diplomacy.

Duration
2 Weeks

Venues
a) Venue 1: Seychelles
Date: 4 – 15 Mar 2024

b) Venue 2: Nairobi, Kenya
Date: 20 November – 01 December 2023

Course Fees
$1,600