The coronavirus pandemic continues to upend lives and livelihoods globally pummeling economic growth in individual countries. Although the SSA region may have been spared the rate of infections recorded in advanced economies, the sharp decline in external demand for the region’s exports and tourism services has had dire consequences for the region’s economy.

There are expectations of a potential recovery in 2021 (IMF: 3.07% y/y; World Bank: 2.10% y/y), even as there has been a resurgence in COVID-19 cases globally that may require new restriction measures as there is still no verified medical solution to the pandemic.

The purpose of this webinar is to examine how feasible the anticipated recovery is, in view of the existing realities, and how the SSA region can position itself - through trade and investment - to be at an advantage during the post-COVID recovery.