Africa has no shortage of trade ambition. As the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA gains momentum, the bigger question is whether we can move goods across borders quickly enough, predictably enough and at a cost that turns that ambition into real growth.
While the agreement has laid the foundation for a more connected market, businesses will only realise its benefits when goods can move efficiently across borders.
Weve made important progress at a policy level with initiatives like AfCFTA, but the benefits are often diluted by operational friction. For many companies, particularly small and medium enterprises SMEs, the reality is that cross-border trade can still be more complex than it needs to be. Different customs requirements, inconsistent documentation processes and lengthy border procedures continue to add cost and delay shipments.
