Afreximbank-led AfCFTA training in Cairo

Set to unlock Africa’s $3.4 trillion single market opportunity

MOSA MAOENG

MASERU – As Africa accelerates its push toward a fully integrated continental economy, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is doubling down on capacity building with the third edition of its flagship African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) training programme.

Scheduled to take place in Cairo, Egypt, from June 16 to 18, the intensive three-day session aims to transform how African businesses understand, access, and profit from the world’s largest free trade area by population.

With the AfCFTA bringing together 55 African Union member states into a single market encompassing over 1.3 billion people and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) exceeding $3.4 trillion, the potential for intra-African trade expansion is immense. Yet, as Afreximbank officials acknowledge, technical complexity and a lack of practical know-how remain significant barriers to entry for many corporates.

This training programme is designed to bridge that gap.

Unlike theoretical trade seminars, the Cairo edition – delivered in collaboration with the American University in Cairo (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat – focuses on actionable outcomes. Participants will gain practical insights into identifying and capitalising on cross-border trade opportunities, managing export and import operations, and navigating trade finance, supply chains, and the broader international trade environment.

Crucially, the programme translates the AfCFTA’s legal and treaty provisions into business-ready strategies. Attendees will learn how the agreement’s framework addresses capacity constraints, eliminates tariffs, and expands market access for producers of goods and services across the continent.

By the end of the training, African corporates are expected to leave with a clear roadmap for maximising the benefits of the single market.

The upcoming Cairo event follows the success of the second edition, titled “Genesis, Dimensions, and Prospects of the AfCFTA for African Corporates,” which was held in Abuja, Nigeria, from June 30 to July 2, 2025, at the new Afreximbank African Trade Centre. That specialised in-person training helped businesses understand the regulatory landscape, navigate tariff and non-tariff barriers, and build internal capacity to compete continent-wide.

Commenting on the programme’s strategic importance, Dr Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist & Managing Director of Research at Afreximbank, described it 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.”

Dr Kale added that the initiative “reinforces the Bank’s commitment to equipping businesses with the insights and capabilities required to effectively leverage opportunities under the Agreement.” He expressed full confidence that participants will leave with a holistic understanding of the AfCFTA’s origins, dimensions, and ongoing negotiations, enabling them to assess both challenges and opportunities.

Despite the AfCFTA’s enormous promise, limited understanding of its technical provisions continues to hinder full realisation of its benefits. Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and even larger corporates remain unsure how to comply with rules of origin, utilise tariff reduction schedules, or access trade finance instruments.

The Cairo programme directly addresses these gaps by clarifying regulatory, operational, and market requirements.

According to the African Development Bank, intra-African trade currently accounts for only about 15 percent of the continent’s total trade, compared to nearly 70 percent in Europe and 40 percent in North America. The AfCFTA aims to boost that figure substantially by 2030, potentially lifting 30 million people out of extreme poverty and increasing continental income by $450 billion, according to World Bank estimates.

However, these outcomes depend on businesses’ ability to act on new trade rules.

Afreximbank is not merely a training provider; it is a pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over three decades, the Bank has deployed innovative financing structures to transform the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion.

As the African Union’s key strategic partner in implementing the AfCFTA, Afreximbank has spearheaded multiple initiatives beyond training. Notably, it launched the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which the African Union adopted as the official payment and settlement platform underpin the AfCFTA.

PAPSS allows businesses to make payments in local currencies, reducing reliance on third-party currencies and saving an estimated $5 billion annually in transaction costs.

Furthermore, working alongside the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, Afreximbank has established a $10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries that may face revenue losses or structural challenges as they lower tariffs and open markets. This fund is critical to ensuring that the AfCFTA’s benefits are inclusive and that no member state is left behind.

Reinforcing the programme’s credibility, Mohamed Ali, Director of Trade in Goods and Competition at the AfCFTA Secretariat, stated: “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 utilise the Agreement.”

The Cairo training is tailored for African corporates, export managers, trade finance professionals, and policymakers. Sessions will cover identifying high-demand products across African markets, managing supply chain disruptions, leveraging the AfCFTA’s dispute resolution mechanisms, and accessing funding under the Adjustment Fund.

Case studies from successful intra-African traders will be featured, alongside networking opportunities with peers and trade experts.

With only months remaining until the June 2026 training date, Afreximbank is urging businesses across the continent to register early. As intra-African trade gains momentum, first-mover advantages will accrue to those who understand the new rules of commerce.

In the words of Dr Kale, participants will not only explore the prospects of the AfCFTA but also learn to capitalise on the agreement while supporting its objectives – to the benefit of their corporations and the continent at large.

For African businesses ready to scale beyond borders, Cairo in June is not just a training venue; it is a launch-pad into a $3.4 trillion future.