Unlocking Africa's trade potential: Insights from the African Trade Conference 2026

THE building blocks of free intercontinental trade and Africa taking its rightful place on the global trade arena are taking shape, but there remains a great deal of practical work to be done including regulatory harmonisation, trade and logistics infrastructure development, and the establishment of trade financing systems.

- EDWARD WEST

DELEGATES at the African Trade Conference said greater impetus is needed to further intra-African trade given the uncertainty geopolitical environment, which is creating uncertainties such as on food and energy prices for Africa countries.

(EDWARD WEST)

This became clear at the African Trade Conference 2026, held in Cape Town on Wednesday. Roosevelt Ogbonna, CEO of Access Bank which hosted the event, stated that since last year's conference, there has been progress in advancing African trade.

There has been the establishment and initiation of value chains across various business sectors. Some African brands are now being exported across continental borders and globally, and several technology platforms developed in Africa are alleviating the friction in payments and logistics systems that previously hindered trade on the continent.

However, he noted that access to trade finance remains a significant challenge. The shortage of infrastructure is causing real delays and costs for every freight shipment within Africa. Additionally, trade is concentrated in only some corridors and markets on the continent. Trade ecosystems were also fragmented between the different countries.

Ogbonna asserted: "Africa can be all that we want it to be. This conference will not end as a talk shop."