AfCFTA
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a free trade area founded in 2018, with trade commencing as of 1 January 2021. It was created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement among 54 of the 55 African Union nations.
AfCFTA was established with the aim to create a single market for goods, services, facilitated by movement of persons to deepen the economic integration of the African continent, under the Pan African Vision of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa". Consolidating Africa into one trade area provides great opportunities for entrepreneurs, businesses and consumers across the continent and the chance to support sustainable development in the world’s least developed region.
African trade in comparison to world trade is still very low at less than three percent: this is because commodities and natural resources still dominate Africa’s export basket and the continent’s participation in the global value chain has remained minimal. Africa trades less within itself and more with third countries increasing our balance of payment and rising trade dependence on foreign markets. The formation of the AfCFTA is an attempt to reverse this trend by progressively eliminating tariffs on intra-African trade, making it easier for African businesses to trade within the continent and cater to and benefit from the growing African market.
Benefits
But what does that mean for the entrepreneurs? The AfCFTA agreement has the potential to become a game changer and bring some great opportunities for entrepreneurs, such as:
• Improving the intra-African trade landscape and export structure. According to the World Bank, AfCFTA will lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, boost Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035 and also increase Africa’s exports by $560 billion, mostly in manufacturing.
• Creating a sound global economic impact;
• Developing better policy frameworks;
• Fostering specialisation and boosting industrialisation;
• Strengthening regional and inter-state cooperation;
• Increasing employment and investment opportunities, as well as technological development;
• Providing the opportunity to harness Africa’s population dividend.
AfCFTA Through GHStartups.com
For your business to benefit equitably, you need to address and improved certain areas, including: access to information, access to education, and access to capital.
Without these three elements, your business cannot take advantage of the AfCFTA, especially with lower varying interest rates across the African Continent - How are you going to compete profitably with other businesses acquiring sub 6% loan rates in their countries as against Ghana's circa 24%?
Get on board with GHStartups.com to realise the full potential of AfCFTA. To opt-in AfCFTA via GHStartups.com, existing customers can simply complete the form here, and voila -- you're on board!
Resources
The following resources, materials, low-rate loans are only available to existing customers:
• African Countries Interest Rate Outlook
• African Countries Market Need Assessments
• AfCFTA-friendly business loans
AfCFTA was established with the aim to create a single market for goods, services, facilitated by movement of persons to deepen the economic integration of the African continent, under the Pan African Vision of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa". Consolidating Africa into one trade area provides great opportunities for entrepreneurs, businesses and consumers across the continent and the chance to support sustainable development in the world’s least developed region.
African trade in comparison to world trade is still very low at less than three percent: this is because commodities and natural resources still dominate Africa’s export basket and the continent’s participation in the global value chain has remained minimal. Africa trades less within itself and more with third countries increasing our balance of payment and rising trade dependence on foreign markets. The formation of the AfCFTA is an attempt to reverse this trend by progressively eliminating tariffs on intra-African trade, making it easier for African businesses to trade within the continent and cater to and benefit from the growing African market.
Benefits
But what does that mean for the entrepreneurs? The AfCFTA agreement has the potential to become a game changer and bring some great opportunities for entrepreneurs, such as:
• Improving the intra-African trade landscape and export structure. According to the World Bank, AfCFTA will lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, boost Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035 and also increase Africa’s exports by $560 billion, mostly in manufacturing.
• Creating a sound global economic impact;
• Developing better policy frameworks;
• Fostering specialisation and boosting industrialisation;
• Strengthening regional and inter-state cooperation;
• Increasing employment and investment opportunities, as well as technological development;
• Providing the opportunity to harness Africa’s population dividend.
AfCFTA Through GHStartups.com
For your business to benefit equitably, you need to address and improved certain areas, including: access to information, access to education, and access to capital.
Without these three elements, your business cannot take advantage of the AfCFTA, especially with lower varying interest rates across the African Continent - How are you going to compete profitably with other businesses acquiring sub 6% loan rates in their countries as against Ghana's circa 24%?
Get on board with GHStartups.com to realise the full potential of AfCFTA. To opt-in AfCFTA via GHStartups.com, existing customers can simply complete the form here, and voila -- you're on board!
Resources
The following resources, materials, low-rate loans are only available to existing customers:
• African Countries Interest Rate Outlook
• African Countries Market Need Assessments
• AfCFTA-friendly business loans