AfCFTA Scoop Issue 16

Hot Topic: The recent agreement between United Bank for Africa Plc. (UBA) and the AfCFTA Secretariat is crucial as it signifies a commitment to support the growth and development of SMEs in Africa. By providing financial services to these enterprises, the agreement aims to enhance their ability to participate in and benefit from the AfCFTA Agreement. This partnership will contribute to the overall objectives of the AfCFTA, such as promoting intra-African trade, boosting economic integration, and creating equitable job opportunities. We celebrate this partnership as a significant step towards empowering SMEs and fostering economic growth across the continent.

In this week's scoop,

Trade experts reflect on and highlight the role of the AfCFTA in boosting intra-African trade

Ledea Sawadogo-Lewis and Thomas Kendra probe whether the AfCFTA Investment Protocol is a new era for investment disputes across Africa

Afreximbank launches the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), a suite of five digital platforms designed as a single window to enable the Bank to better deliver on its mandate by providing critical services to support and promote African trade and the implementation of the AfCFTA

FAO releases a policy brief to foster a gender-responsive free trade area

Till Next Time,

DevDispatch Team