There are plans by Afreximbank to organise a specialised training programme in Abuja from June 30 to July 2, 2025, aimed at helping African enterprises leverage the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
 
The programme seeks to equip businesses with a deep understanding of the AfCFTA’s commercial implications and regulatory landscape. Organised in partnership with the American University in Cairo and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the training will provide policy-relevant insights to interpret treaty instruments and ensure compliance with new trade rules.  It will also offer support to exporters in navigating tariff and non-tariff barriers while enhancing regional integration awareness.
 
The initiative will target a wide audience, including African corporates involved in trade, trade support Institutions, export trading companies, investment promotion agencies, financial institutions and the broader trade ecosystem.

Participants will receive practical exposure to Afreximbank initiatives such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) and trade finance solutions.
  
Speaking on the importance of the training, Group Chief Economist and Managing Director of Research, Afreximbank, Dr Yemi Kale, said AfCFTA is not just a policy framework but is also a catalyst for a structural shift in Africa’s economic landscape.

He said: “However, many African businesses are still grappling with limited awareness of the agreement’s technical provisions, trade protocols and strategic benefits. This knowledge deficit has constrained their ability to compete effectively, expand their market reach and optimise value chains across the continent.”
 
He warned that even competitive businesses risk missing out without understanding tariff schedules, rules of origin, customs cooperation and dispute resolution mechanisms. “This training is about more than compliance; it is about empowerment. It equips participants not only to meet regulatory requirements but also to develop export strategies, diversify markets, and improve competitiveness.”
 
Also speaking, the director, Coordination and Programmes, AfCFTA Secretariat, Tsotetsi Mekong, said the programme will help African businesses seeking export opportunities overcome key challenges, including understanding African markets’ depth, navigating market rules and compliance requirements and optimising cross-border product transportation.

The programme will be hosted at the newly launched Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja, a dedicated space for trade facilitation and business collaboration.