AfCFTA key to uniting youth and women for economic growth

Dar es Salaam. For the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to succeed, it is vital to unite the continent’s youth, promote cross-border collaboration, and amplify a collective voice, according to key leaders in the business and trade sectors.

Emma Kawawa, the founder of Tanzania’s Women CEOs Roundtable, stated that many partnerships have failed due to a lack of cooperation, particularly the exclusion of women and youth from economic discussions.

She emphasised that for AfCFTA to be successful, Africa must speak with one voice rather than allowing individual countries to advocate separately.

“This initiative will continue through a series of meetings,” Ms Kawawa remarked at the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) meeting.

The gathering, which brought together 24 council chambers, aimed to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by AfCFTA.

Participants highlighted the need to reduce trade barriers and create a thriving, interconnected African market.

PACCI’s executive director, Mr Kebour Ghenna, stressed the importance of modernising commerce chambers across the continent to meet the evolving needs of businesses.

He asserted that for AfCFTA to succeed, both the government and the private sector must collaborate closely, sharing ideas and supporting one another.

“We must particularly focus on the digitalization of the chambers of commerce to ensure efficient communication across nations,” Mr Ghenna said.

Mr Vincent Minja, President of Tanzania’s Chambers of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), noted that logistics and non-tariff barriers are major challenges facing intra-Africa trade.

He pointed to historical trade restrictions, such as Kenya’s ban on exporting maize to Tanzania, as examples of barriers hindering the free movement of goods and people between African nations.

“There are numerous non-tariff barriers that impede trade,” Mr Minja observed. “While it’s relatively easy to trade with distant countries like China, it remains difficult for Tanzanians to conduct business with neighbouring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Central Africa.” 

He called for concrete action from African governments to facilitate the free movement of people and goods, as stipulated in the AfCFTA agreement signed by African heads of state.

Mr Minja also expressed concern that African countries are increasingly becoming markets for finished goods from other nations instead of suppliers.

He explained: “When you’re a market for others, you essentially export employment because you import finished products rather than creating local jobs.”

He stressed the need for African nations to revisit their commitments under the AfCFTA to build a more self-reliant and integrated economy rather than relying on external markets.

Mr Tapiwa Karoro, President of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), emphasised that the Chamber Modeling Innovation (CMI) is crucial for enhancing the operational effectiveness of chambers across Africa.

Mr Karoro believes that this innovation is key to unlocking the full potential of AfCFTA.

Meanwhile, Ms Nigest Haile from the Ethiopian Private Sector highlighted the critical role of women in driving business under AfCFTA.

She noted that while the agreement includes a dedicated protocol for women, many remain unaware of its benefits.

“Ethiopia is currently raising awareness about AfCFTA, which presents a unique opportunity to enhance women’s capacity to trade,” Ms Haile explained.

 She added that a significant barrier for women is their limited access to loans and credit facilities due to issues surrounding property ownership.

To address this, Ethiopia has established a women’s commercial bank that not only provides financial services but also offers a risk fund prioritizing loans for women entrepreneurs, even without collateral, as long as their business ideas are viable.

“We aim to support women entrepreneurs who lack financial resources to scale up, not just fund businesses because they are owned by women,” Ms Haile said.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to addressing these challenges and exploring ways for African nations to collaborate in creating a favourable environment for trade, thereby driving economic development across the continent.