Private sector takes centre stage in AfCFTA implementation push

The Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, has reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to accelerating trade integration through deeper private sector engagement, following a high-level meeting with a delegation from the African Private Sector Summit.

The delegation, led by Dr. Lucy Newman, held what officials described as a “productive engagement” focused on advancing private sector-led implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The discussions come at a critical time as the continent intensifies efforts to operationalise AfCFTA, widely regarded as one of the world’s largest single market initiatives.

Strengthening Continental Collaboration

Central to the meeting was the need to enhance collaboration across key continental platforms that support trade and investment. These include flagship initiatives such as the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Biashara Afrika forums, African Union summits, and formal AfCFTA institutional engagements.

Participants emphasised that aligning these platforms would help streamline dialogue, reduce duplication, and accelerate the delivery of practical outcomes for African businesses.

Advancing a Private Sector Bill of Rights

Another key focus was progress on the vetting and validation of the proposed Private Sector Bill of Rights (PSBoR), an initiative aimed at safeguarding business interests and creating a predictable operating environment across African markets.

Stakeholders noted that the PSBoR could serve as a critical instrument in boosting investor confidence and ensuring that private enterprises, especially small and medium-sized firms, are fully integrated into the AfCFTA framework.

Towards a Pan-African CEO Compact

The meeting also explored the establishment of a Pan-African CEO Compact, envisioned as a high-level coalition of business leaders committed to championing intra-African trade and industrialisation.

Such a platform, officials believe, would amplify private sector voices, foster strategic partnerships, and drive innovation across industries.

Unlocking Trade Enablers

Discussions further highlighted the importance of addressing structural barriers to trade, particularly the movement of people across borders. Facilitating mobility, alongside improving logistics and regulatory harmonisation, was identified as essential to unlocking the full potential of the AfCFTA.

From Dialogue to Delivery

As Africa continues to build its single market, the message from the engagement was clear: the continent must transition from policy discussions to tangible results.

Placing the private sector at the heart of implementation, leaders stressed, will be critical to delivering real economic transformation, boosting intra-African trade, and creating jobs.

With momentum building, the AfCFTA Secretariat and its partners are signaling a renewed focus on execution, turning ambition into action and ensuring that the benefits of continental integration are widely shared

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