African companies will be offered training on how to better access opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat when a three-day programme opens in Cairo in June, as policymakers and lenders push to deepen intra-African trade (AfCFTA).
The third edition of the AfCFTA Training Programme, scheduled for June 16 to 18, is being led by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with the American University in Cairo and the AfCFTA Secretariat, according to a statement.
The initiative aims to help businesses navigate the operational and regulatory demands of trading under the continent-wide pact, which seeks to create a single market for goods and services but has faced implementation challenges.
While the agreement has been widely promoted as a driver of economic growth, limited understanding of its technical provisions continues to constrain uptake among corporates, the organisers said.
The programme will focus on practical areas including trade finance, supply chains, export and import processes, and market access, with an emphasis on translating treaty provisions into business strategies.
Dr. Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist at Afreximbank, described the initiative as “a strategic platform for advancing the adoption and deepening the understanding of the AfCFTA among key stakeholders, particularly corporates within the broader private sector ecosystem.”
He added that the programme “reinforces the Bank’s commitment to equipping businesses with the insights and capabilities required to effectively leverage opportunities under the Agreement.”
Kale said: “I have full confidence that participants in this training will leave with a holistic understanding of the AfCFTA, its genesis and dimensions, enabling them to assess the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations, and to examine the challenges and opportunities that underlie the negotiations and the agreement at large. They will also be able to explore the prospects of the AfCFTA and to capitalize on the agreement while supporting its objectives to the benefit their corporations and the continent.”
Mohamed Ali, Director of Trade in Goods and Competition at the AfCFTA Secretariat, said: “This programme represents a critical step towards unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade through targeted capacity building and strategic partnerships. Our collaboration with Afreximbank reinforces a shared commitment to equip African businesses with the practical knowledge, tools, and institutional support required to effectively utilize the Agreement.”
The training will be delivered through Afreximbank’s AFRACAD platform, which focuses on building trade capacity across the continent.
Mr. Stephen Tio Kauma, Managing Director of Human Resources at Afreximbank, said: “Delivered through the Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD), this programme reflects our commitment to equipping African businesses with the practical skills needed to fully leverage the opportunities under the AfCFTA. AFRACAD continues to serve as a leading trade knowledge hub, empowering participants to compete and thrive in Africa’s single market. Through our strong partnerships and innovative learning approach, we are empowering businesses across Global Africa to scale, innovate, and play a leading role in the continent’s economic transformation”.
The AfCFTA, which aims to boost intra-African trade by reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, is a central pillar of the African Union’s economic integration agenda. The Cairo training reflects a broader push by institutions to translate the agreement into tangible gains for businesses across the continent. egistration and further information, can be gotten from https://www.afracad.com/afcfta .
