The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC) on Monday, May 18, signed a renewed memorandum of understanding, on the sidelines of Biashara Afrika 2026, the platform that brings together policymakers, business leaders, financiers and trade partners to deepen intra-African trade.

With AfCFTA negotiations now concluded, the renewed agreement marks a transition from establishing a policy framework to enabling practical, private sector-led trade across the continent, by creating a business-friendly ecosystem.

The partnership, signed one week before Africa Day, underscores a shared commitment to empowering small businesses, especially those led by women, youth and smallholder farmers, to compete in a single African market.

Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene and ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton signed the agreement.

Secretary-General Mene said: ‘The success of the AfCFTA will ultimately be measured by the extent to which African businesses are able to trade across borders with greater ease and opportunity. This renewed partnership with ITC reinforces our shared commitment to creating practical commercial opportunities for SMEs, women and youth-led enterprises within the African market.’

Executive Director Coke-Hamilton said: ‘Our renewed partnership is about translating the AfCFTA into real trading opportunities for African businesses, especially small businesses, so they are better able to access new markets on the continent, at a time of major shifts in global trade.’

ITC research shows that under the AfCFTA, intra-African trade could grow by an additional $22 billion per year by 2029, including by eliminating tariffs and developing value chains.

Advancing Africa’s trade and integration agenda

The agreement aligns with Africa’s economic integration agenda, Agenda 2063, as well as the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The AfCFTA Is among the fastest-negotiated agreements within the African Union system, having been signed in 2018, entered into force in 2019 and commencing trading in 2021.

This renewed partnership comes at a critical moment in global trade, as disruptions and uncertainties in the multilateral trading system highlight the importance of strong regional partnerships and collaborative approaches to development.

In line with key AfCFTA objectives – such as value chain development and economic diversification – key areas of cooperation include market access and trade facilitation; capacity building and inclusive entrepreneurship; enhanced institutional capacity to implement AfCFTA commitments; and improved access to trade and market intelligence for decision-making and ecosystem development.

A strong element of this renewed partnership is the co-creation approach, working together to conceptualize priorities, design programmes, refine approaches, leverage expertise and networks, and mobilize resources.

The approach emphasizes shared ownership, results-based implementation and practical impact.

•AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene (R) and ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton during the signing