• admindesk@icoyacaafrica.org
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  • Blog
  • September 14, 2025

Africa Trade Gateway: Building Trust and Seamless Trade Across Borders

The concept of an Africa Trade Gateway emerges as a pivotal framework to overcome these challenges, fostering trust, transparency, and efficiency to realize the full potential of intra-African trade. As a trade policy advisor and advocate for AfCFTA, I believe this gateway can redefine Africa’s role in global commerce, empower its entrepreneurs, and drive inclusive growth.

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  • Blog
  • September 14, 2025

Advancing Africa’s Green Industrial Future: Insights from the IATF 2025 High-Level Forum on Sustainable Industrialization

From September 4–10, 2025, Algiers, Algeria, became the epicenter of Africa’s economic ambitions as it hosted the Fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025). Among the fair’s many pivotal sessions, a high-level thematic forum convened by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and Algeria’s Ministry of Industry stood out as a beacon of hope for Africa’s sustainable industrial transformation. Under the theme “Boosting Intra-African Trade for a Sustainable Future: Innovation, Value Addition, and Green Industrialisation,” this forum illuminated the critical role of green and competitive value chains in unlocking the AfCFTA’s potential and positioning African industries as formidable players in global markets.

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  • Blog
  • August 28, 2025

Unlocking Opportunities for Zimbabwe’s SMEs under the AfCFTA: Insights from the National Workshops

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a landmark agreement connecting 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion, represents a transformative opportunity for Zimbabwe’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The National Workshops held on 25-26 August 2025 at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED), aimed to equip Zimbabwean SMEs with the knowledge and tools to leverage this historic trade agreement.

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  • Blog
  • August 25, 2025

The Strategic Role of National Trade Facilitation Committees in Advancing the AfCFTA: A Call for Action

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in January 2021, represents a historic opportunity to transform Africa’s economic landscape. By creating a single market for goods and services across 54 countries, the AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade, foster industrialization, and drive sustainable economic growth. However, the success of this ambitious agreement hinges on its effective implementation, and National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs) are pivotal in turning this vision into reality. As the backbone of trade facilitation reforms, NTFCs must adopt strategic, actionable measures to ensure the AfCFTA delivers on its transformative potential.

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Africa Must Look Inward: A Case for Strengthening the AfCFTA

In a striking policy move, the United States has imposed a 50% tariff on all imports from Lesotho—despite the country’s status as a least-developed country (LDC) and a longstanding AGOA beneficiary. The decision threatens thousands of jobs in Lesotho’s textile industry, which employs a majority of women and young people. In her latest opinion article, Anele Simon, Acting Secretary General of ICOYACA, explores what this development means for Africa’s trade security and why it underscores the urgent need to strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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Secretary-General Wamkele Mene's Reappointment Marks Key Milestone as AU Adopts the Protocol on Digital Trade

Secretary-General Wamkele Mene's Reappointment Marks Key Milestone as AU Adopts the Protocol on Digital Trade

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South Africa Joins the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative: A Boost for Intra-African Trade

A positive stride towards economic integration and prosperity: South Africa officially joins AfCFTA's Guided Trade Initiative, boosting intra-African trade. The move opens new opportunities for young entrepreneurs, comprising 25% of MSMEs in the country. Key steps include awareness campaigns, streamlined trade procedures and capacity building. ICOYACA remains committed to educating African youth on the AfCFTA for fostering economic empowerment and awareness.

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AfCFTA BUSINESS FORUM 2023

The AfCFTA Youth Advisory Council Team led by the Chairperson Mr. Emolot Allan David participated in the AfCFTA Business Forum 2023. Before the forum started, Our AfCFTA Champions from all regions of the continent are attending the Pre-AfCFTA Business Forum 2023 Event organized by AfCFTA Secretariat, International Trade Centre and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) among others partners under the theme: Activating Trade & Investments.

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Recent Posts

Blog Photo
Africa Trade Gateway: Building Trust and Seamless Trade Across Borders
September 14, 2025
Blog Photo
Advancing Africa’s Green Industrial Future: Insights from the IATF 2025 High-Level Forum on Sustainable Industrialization
September 14, 2025
Blog Photo
Unlocking Opportunities for Zimbabwe’s SMEs under the AfCFTA: Insights from the National Workshops
August 28, 2025

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