The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have signed a renewed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of Biashara Afrika 2026. This platform brings together policymakers, business leaders, financiers, and trade partners to deepen intra-African trade. With AfCFTA negotiations now concluded, the renewed agreement marks a transition from establishing a policy framework to enabling practical, private sector-led trade across the continent by creating a business-friendly ecosystem.
The partnership, signed just before Africa Day, underscores a shared commitment to empowering small businesses, especially those led by women, youth, and smallholder farmers, to compete in a single African market. Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, and ITC Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, signed on behalf of their organisations.
Key Statements from Leaders
Mene stated: “The success of the AfCFTA would ultimately be measured by the extent to which African businesses can trade across borders with greater ease and opportunity. This renewed partnership with ITC reinforces our shared commitment to creating practical commercial opportunities for SMEs, women and youth-led enterprises within the African market.”
Coke-Hamilton added: “Our renewed partnership is about translating the AfCFTA into real trading opportunities for African businesses, especially small businesses, so they are better able to access new markets on the continent, at a time of major shifts in global trade.”
Expected Impact on Trade
Data from the ITC indicates that under the AfCFTA, intra-African trade could grow by an additional $22 billion per year by 2029, partly through tariff elimination and value chain development. The agreement aligns with Africa’s economic integration agenda, Agenda 2063, and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The AfCFTA is among the fastest-negotiated agreements within the African Union system, signed in 2018, entering into force in 2019, and commencing trading in 2021. This renewed partnership comes at a critical moment in global trade as disruptions and uncertainties in the multilateral trading system highlight the importance of strong regional partnerships and collaborative development approaches.
Areas of Cooperation
In line with key AfCFTA objectives such as value chain development and economic diversification, key areas of cooperation include:
- Market access and trade facilitation
- Capacity building and inclusive entrepreneurship
- Enhanced institutional capacity to implement AfCFTA commitments
- Improved access to trade and market intelligence for decision-making and ecosystem development
A strong element of the renewed partnership is the co-creation approach, working together to conceptualise priorities, design programmes, refine approaches, leverage expertise and networks, and mobilise resources. The approach emphasizes shared ownership, results-based implementation, and practical impact.
