Globalization and trade are two sides of the same coin. Globalization may be explained the as the extension of trade, commerce, and culture of an economy across different nations. In economic terms, globalization may be explained as the state of interdependence between Nations around the globe promoted through free trade. On the other hand, trade involves the exchange of goods and services between two consensual sides.

The role of globalization and trade towards economic growth and development cannot be underestimated; globalization facilitates global business expansion, increases the migration workforce, and promotes FDI. Despite the efforts pushed by the government of Tanzania to improve the trade environment to exploit the benefits associated with globalization, the country is nowhere close to meeting its full trade potential, the existence of problems such as excessive bureaucracy in registering and starting new businesses, corruption, and underdeveloped infrastructures are among the reasons that the effective trading environment in Tanzania.

The effective implementation of AfCFTA is thought to be a blessing to many African countries particularly Tanzania. It aims at promoting the volume of intra-African trade particularly trade in value-added production and this agreement connects 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a GDP of $3.4 trillion, it has the potential to lift 30 million people out of poverty and it is expected to boost African income by $450 billion while adding $76 billion to the rest of the world. Furthermore, this agreement has a big potential for young people to leverage on through entrepreneurship, agriculture, and innovation.

It is these concerns that made Liberty Sparks host different seminars on globalization and trade while reflecting fully on the AfCFTA. This organization aims at promoting awareness, especially among young people on the issues related to globalization and trade in the contemporary world and on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement .We believe that awareness precedes changes and young people may be aware of how to exploit the benefits rendered by this agreement and overcome problems such as unemployment.

On February 4th, 2023, we hosted a globalization and trade seminar at Ardhi University in Tanzania where we highlighted different issues related to globalization, trade, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). The event was accompanied by the launching of a globalization and trade book authored by Dr.Eamonn Buttler and translated into the Swahili language by Liberty Sparks. We received a warm welcome from the Ardhi University staff and students, and about 150 students participated in the seminar. Furthermore, the event was accompanied by certifications, discussions (Q&A), and refreshments.

The students highlighted various issues that limit them from starting small businesses, some of the issues were, unawareness, high compliance costs in starting a business, a poor education system that is more paper-oriented than practically oriented, lack of market information, and access to credits due to lack of collateral securities. In addition to this, the students came up with their views on why African countries are stuck in poverty; some of the highlighted issues were low involvement of youth in the agriculture sector, low level of technology, poor infrastructure facilities, and poor mindset among other reasons. The students urged the government to create a favorable business-enabling environment to encourage more youth to open businesses, reduce high compliance costs in registering small business ventures and improve the infrastructure facilities.

Lastly, Mr. Evans Exaud (liberty sparks C.E.O) encouraged the students to exploit the available opportunities to transform their lives and promote economic growth and development. He added that AfCFTA has a big potential for young people to leverage and he encouraged students to become innovative and critical thinkers, he emphasized that young people should be innovative and creative by addressing specific community problems. In addition to this, he emphasized the students to participate in various upcoming liberty sparks events virtually and physically to increase their understanding and become community champions; he also introduced to students the formulation of “Ideas for emerging leaders” clubs in primary, and secondary schools and at the University level and encouraged them to join in those clubs at the university level to build a community of visionary young leaders.

Download more pictures here: Ardhi University Pictures