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YALDA i-Boot Camp Welcome Address

Esteemed Partners, Speakers, Participants and Supporters,

We are delighted to welcome you to our 8th International i-Boot Camp, that will hosted by Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA) in the vibrant city of Pretoria, South Africa on the 21^st – 25^th February, 2024. Our theme, "Breaking Information Barriers in Intra-Africa Trade: Accelerating Youth Inclusiveness in Implementing the AfCFTA," holds deep significance for our continent's growth and progress.  

Our i-Boot Camp is an intensive training programme that seeks to empower young African entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resources needed to bridge information gaps and seize the boundless potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the AfCFTA Secretariat, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for co-convening this auspicious training programme with us.  Together, we have forged an alliance committed to nurturing young African entrepreneurs. We also thank the University of Pretoria and the Future Africa Center for their unwavering partnership and support.

In these dynamic times, the arrival of our i-Boot Camp could not be more pertinent. Our theme holds profound significance as it resonates with the current pulse of our continent. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has opened unprecedented opportunities for our continent, and it is imperative that our youth are at the forefront of this transformative revolution.  As the African Union declared 2023 the year for the "Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation," we find ourselves on the cusp of an era filled with boundless opportunities.

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