The second edition of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) business forum known as Biashara Afrika, underway in Kigali has convened thousands of delegates from across Africa and beyond deliberations that will conclude on 11 October.
African delegates at the forum, which brought together political and business and policymakers, shared insights into possible ways to tackle bottlenecks holding back intra-African trade and the AfCFTA.
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Neo Sekhesa of House of Linford, a women-owned distillery in Lesotho, said businesses engaged cross-border trade face a host of challenges, including tariff and non-tariff barriers.
"International tariffs hinder us as small entrepreneurs. Different governments need to understand our challenges. While there will be differences between countries, we are all striving to grow Africa economically,” Sekhesa said.
"Obtaining export licences can be costly and time-consuming for small businesses. Even once secured, complications such as finding agents in various countries to represent our products can delay market entry, resulting in significant financial losses,” she said.
She highlighted the potential for the private sector to seize opportunities presented by the AfCFTA.
"This platform offers significant potential. I've encountered people from Rwanda and Kenya who have shared insights about their markets, including opportunities and gaps I can exploit.”
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Naim Gulam from Malawi, who is showcasing agro-commodities at an exhibition at Biashara Afrika, pointed to payment systems as a barrier.
"Cross-border payments are problematic; for instance, when we want to send products to Zimbabwe, they lack the foreign exchange to pay, even though there is demand for our products,” Gulam said.
"A prompt introduction of an African payment system would help alleviate this issue. Additionally, streamlining cross-border documentation is crucial, as these processes often hinder exporters,” he said.
Didintle Moreki from Botswana, who is involved in the manufacturing of cosmetic products, emphasised the need to ease intra-African movement of goods and people.
"The issue remains that we still require visas within Africa. It is time for African countries to allow free trade among ourselves, as this is essential for fostering trade,” Moreki said.
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Gilbert Junior Buregyeya, who runs a tech innovation hub in Uganda, highlighted the impact of political will of the African states, especially with regards to the ratification the AfCFTA agreement.
"Several countries signed the agreement but have yet to ratify it. For businesses looking to expand and reach out to others, it is crucial for government officials to discuss the challenges hindering ratification and the implementation of the agreement,” Buregyeya observed.
He further noted that people remain unaware of the importance of the AfCFTA, suggesting that governments and responsible parties should actively raise awareness of the continental trade area.
For Weyinmi Eribo from Nigeria, there is a desire for a shift from discussions to actions.
"We are beginning to see more conversations surrounding the AfCFTA and its acceptance, but many challenges remain. We want to witness a transition from dialogue to action, and I am genuinely hopeful that significant developments will arise from this,” she remarked.
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Beven Nebafor Awusa from Cameroon advocated for free trade and the need to make use of African expertise.
"We should not limit ourselves to considering experts from within our own countries. We should recognise that we are all Africans with solutions to offer. We need not look abroad for expertise,” he argued.