African and British officials are seeking to remove some of the biggest barriers holding back intra-African trade, focusing on customs modernization, digital trade systems, and stronger regional value chains to unlock opportunities for businesses under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The AfCFTA Secretariat and representatives from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) concluded a two-day strategic meeting aimed at accelerating implementation of the trade pact and designing a new regional program focused on agri-food trade.
While demand for agricultural and food products across African markets remains strong, businesses continue to face significant operational challenges when exporting to neighboring countries. These include cumbersome customs procedures, limited interoperability between trade systems, and fragmented regional value chains, according to discussions held during the meeting.
Officials identified customs modernization, digital trade facilitation, and the resilience of agri-food supply chains as priority areas requiring coordinated action. The talks also explored new mechanisms to support implementation of the continent-wide trade agreement and improve market access for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
The discussions underscored the gap between the AfCFTA’s policy ambitions and the practical realities facing traders on the ground. Participants emphasized that stronger institutions, coordinated regulatory systems, and greater national ownership of trade reforms are essential to translating the agreement’s commitments into tangible commercial opportunities.
The AfCFTA, which aims to create the world’s largest free trade area by number of participating countries, is expected to play a central role in boosting intra-African commerce, industrialization, and economic integration. However, implementation challenges continue to slow progress in several sectors, including agriculture and food processing.
Officials said partnerships that strengthen trade ecosystems, support SMEs, and improve connections between regional markets will be critical to moving the agreement from policy to practice and unlocking the full potential of Africa’s agri-food sector.
