Local corporates can tap into a specialised training programme in June aimed at helping businesses maximise opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative seeks to equip African businesses with the knowledge and practical tools needed to navigate the continent’s evolving trade landscape, unlock new markets and take advantage of opportunities created by the landmark trade agreement.
The three-day programme, scheduled for June 16 to 18 in Cairo, Egypt, will equip participants with practical skills and knowledge to navigate Africa’s evolving intra-African trade landscape.
The initiative is being organised by the African Export-Import Bank, the American University in Cairo and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat as the third edition of the AfCFTA Training Programme.
AfCFTA is the world’s largest trading bloc, covering more than one billion people with a combined gross domestic product of over US$3,4 trillion. According to the World Bank, the agreement has the potential to lift about 100 million Africans out of poverty and boost the continent’s GDP by US$450 billion by 2035.
The training programme aims to help businesses understand the agreement’s technical provisions and translate them into practical trade strategies.
Yemi Kale, group chief economist and managing director of research at African Export-Import Bank, described the programme as a strategic platform for advancing the adoption and deepening understanding of AfCFTA among key stakeholders, particularly companies in the private sector.
“This initiative reinforces the bank’s commitment to equipping businesses with the insights and capabilities required to effectively leverage opportunities under the agreement,” Kale said.
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He added that participants would gain a holistic understanding of AfCFTA’s origins, structure, and ongoing negotiations, enabling them to assess both opportunities and challenges presented by the continental trade pact.
Mohamed Ali, director of trade in goods and competition at the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, said the programme represents a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade through targeted capacity building and partnerships.
“Our collaboration with Afreximbank reinforces a shared commitment to equip African businesses with the practical knowledge, tools and institutional support required to effectively utilise the agreement,” he said.
Stephen Tio Kauma, managing director for human resources at African Export-Import Bank, said the programme will be delivered through the bank’s academy, AFRACAD, which focuses on strengthening trade capacity across the continent.
“AFRACAD continues to serve as a leading trade knowledge hub, empowering participants to compete and thrive in Africa’s single market,” he said.
Despite AfCFTA’s significant potential to drive economic development, a limited understanding of its technical provisions and practical applications continues to slow full adoption by businesses.
The training programme will therefore focus on helping companies identify trade opportunities, manage export and import operations, navigate trade finance and supply chains, and understand the broader international trade environment.
It will also outline how the AfCFTA framework can help businesses overcome capacity constraints while expanding market access for producers of goods and services across Africa.
For local firms, the training comes at a time when about half of companies say they are not ready to participate in Africa’s free trade area due to the harsh operating environment, according to research by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries.
AfCFTA is key to driving intra-African trade and reducing the continent’s reliance on external markets amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
In 2025, total African trade reached approximately US$1,4 trillion, with intra-African trade accounting for roughly 18% of total trade, supported by the ongoing implementation of AfCFTA, according to the African Trade and Economic Outlook 2026 report.
Africa’s trade is projected to keep expanding, with a 10% increase expected in 2026. Similarly, intra-African trade is projected to reach US$230 billion by 2026, partly driven by the accelerated implementation of AfCFTA.
The African Trade and Economic Outlook 2026 report said AfCFTA represents a critical framework for expanding intra-African trade, supporting industrial development and reducing dependence on external markets.
“Achieving these objectives, however, will depend on effective and coordinated implementation, sustained investment in trade-related infrastructure and the alignment of trade and industrial policies,” the report said.
