• To enable Southern and Eastern African senior level policy makers to discuss matters of concern to them in a relatively free atmosphere (free from "mandated" positions) in order to clarify matters for themselves. The objective of the exercise is to prepare African policy makers to better manage the process of globalization.

• To help build the long-term capacity of African countries on trade-related matters through building an information network using the electronic and print media.

• To help develop a documentation centre to build on institutional memory and learning.

• To monitor develop in the area of trade and trade-related matters.

• To monitor and evaluate the results of African negotiations on trade and trade-related matters.
  
• To help raise awareness and bring into the discourse the concerns of the private sector and of the civil society into trade-related matters.
  
• To undertake scientific research into contemporary issues arising out of the demands of globalization, the new multilateral trading regime, regionalism, and national responses to these.

At a broader level, Seatini seeks to:

• To network with academics, policy makers, NGOs and civil society movements concerned about the forces and effects of globalization on Africa and the Third World generally.
  
• To help democratise international economic decision-making organisations, such as the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO.
  
• To contribute to the fight for social justice, democracy and good governance, without partisan, sectarian or sexism.