The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in Collaboration with the Centre for Regional Integration in Africa (CRIA) have organised a regional workshop in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) in Accra, Ghana.
The training, which was on the theme, “Bridging Anglophone and Francophone Markets through Trade Facilitation, SME Partnerships And AfCFTA Value Chains” saw participants across Africa converge at the Labadi Beach Hotel, in Accra.
The three-day training, which started from Tuesday, 26th November, 2024 through to Thursday, November 28, 2024 had partycicpants taken through various issues confronting trade across the continent of Africa.
Addressing participants on the training on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, Mr. Mbacke, who represented the executive Secretary, African capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Mr. Mamadou Biteye, said, “As we gather here in Accra today, we are united haye common goal to enhance trade facilitation, nurture partnership, and promote a more integrated Africa.
The training affords participants the opportunity to engage in intra African business transactions that will broaden the scope of businesss that will thrive on the continent.
“By bridging our markets, we not only foster economic growth but we also create opportunities for countries, individuals and communities across Africa”, Mr. Mbacke said.
“The training is about trade in Africa. Trade is important in the economy of Africa and we need to facilitate the exchanges within countries for people to understand the different rule that govern trade in Africa. We are happy that the AfCFTA is supporting the initiate together with the African Development bank in partnership with CRIA to organize this training,” Mr. Mbacke added.
Trade on the African continent is the life bold of economic growth and development, hence its importance of the African continent, especially amongst Francophone and Anglophone countries cannot be underestimated. Intra African trade will become the livewire in promoting economic integration, reduction in the poverty rate, and foster sustainable development among member countries.
Trade amongst African countries has been characterised by a myriad of challenges, however, by leveraging on the AfCTA chain, and ensuring a robust trade facilitation measures, African countries would have the luxury of increasing trade, attract investment, and improving the living standards of its people.
On her part, the Executive Director for Centre for Regional Integration of Africa, Professor Lehlohonolo Tlou maintained that SMEs need support from government and amongst themselves so as to improve a strong boarder trade.
She acknowledged that the CRIA cannot work alone in ensuring free cross boarder trade, hence the need to have all stakeholders on the continent get involved to achieve the feat.
Professor Tlou said, “The expected outcome of the workshop is really that we are talking about how we can facilitate trade for SMEs, we are talking about how SMEs can work collaboratively across the linguistic divide, the Anglophone and Francophone divide. Doing that they are going to network, create partnerships in a way that can lead to effective ways of trading.”
The training is expected to move from Ghana to Central Africa and Eastern Africa, where more African countries would be brought together to talk about issues that confront the SMEs as well as ways in which the barriers can be overcome, and develop strategies which will enhance trade amongst all African countries within the continent.
