THE GLOBAL MARKET BY STRENGTHENING AFRICA’S COMMON VOICE AND POLICY SPACE IN GLOBAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, BUDGET AND NATIONAL PLANNING, DR. ZAINAB AHMED, HAS URGED INSURANCE OPERATORS IN WEST AFRICA TO REPOSITION THE INDUSTRY FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS. SPEAKING  AT THE WEST AFRICAN INSURANCE COMPANIES ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE AND CELEBRATION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN LAGOS STATE NIGERIA, AHMED NOTED THAT AS AN OPTIMIST, WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO BELIEVE IN A NEW DAWN, LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS, AND A POSITIVE PARADIGM SHIFT FOCUSED AND POISED TO MEET THE ANTICIPATED SURGE IN THE DEMAND AND UNTAPPED SIDE. AHMED ALSO NOTED THAT THE OBJECTIVES BEHIND THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA WAS TO ACCELERATE INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE BY PROVIDING A SINGLE MARKET FOR GOODS AND SERVICES, FACILITATE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS IN ORDER TO DEEPEN THE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND PROSPERITY ON THE CONTINENT AS WELL AS BOOSTING AFRICA’S TRADING POSITION IN