Investors want the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to deliver easier market access, stronger logistics and more predictable regulations as Africa works to turn its single-market ambitions into investable opportunities.
The issue was central to discussions at the AIM Congress 2026 session, “Mobilising Investment for Continental Integration: Investing Across Africa’s Connected Markets,” where participants examined what would make Africa’s markets more connected and attractive to investors.
From an investor perspective, continental connectivity extends beyond roads, ports and other physical infrastructure. It also depends on efficient logistics, easier entry into markets, greater regulatory alignment and stronger project preparation capable of turning opportunities into commercially viable investments.
The discussion noted the role of digital innovation and financial technology in expanding access to finance, payments and markets, particularly for small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to operate across borders.
The ultimate test of the AfCFTA will be how easily businesses and investors can navigate different markets, identify opportunities, move goods and capital and expand operations across the continent, participants said.
Attention is now turning to whether the agreement can produce measurable progress in the coming year, including greater alignment of national laws with the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment.
Such progress would help determine whether Africa’s single market becomes a framework that investors can experience in practice rather than primarily a policy ambition, according to the discussions at the session.
