Dr Oduwole calls for trade barriers dismantling as #BiasharaAfrika2026 opens with calls for decisive AfCFTA implementation

Africa, Business

LOMÉ, Togo (NPA) — The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Biashara Afrika 2026 Forum has officially kicked off in Lomé, Togo, bringing together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and development partners to accelerate African trade integration. The three-day event, hosted at the Palais des Congrès from 18–20 May 2026, is jointly convened by the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Government of Togo under the theme “Powering Africa’s Economic Transformation through the AfCFTA.”

Speaking at the opening, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, highlighted significant progress in advancing intra-African trade, noting that the growth already recorded is “clear evidence that the AfCFTA is working.” He reiterated the Secretariat’s continued support for SMEs and the private sector, stressing that “there can be no trade without businesses.” Mene pointed to ongoing efforts to digitalise trade through tools such as digital payment systems, non-tariff barrier reporting mechanisms, and the e-Certificate of Origin, which are helping accelerate Africa’s digital trade transformation.

Also addressing the forum, Hon. Badanam Patoki, Togo’s Minister of Economy and Strategic Monitoring, and Hon. Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, emphasised the importance of translating the AfCFTA’s promise into tangible opportunities. Dr Oduwole called for coordinated and practical action to dismantle barriers to trade, including restrictions on the movement of people, goods, and services across the continent.

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Over the next three days, Biashara Afrika 2026 will feature high-level plenaries, exhibitions, B2B meetings, and technical workshops covering trade facilitation, agribusiness, manufacturing, digital commerce, and innovative financing. Special emphasis is being placed on SMEs, women entrepreneurs, and youth-led businesses, to strengthen supply chains, promote value addition, and expand inclusive participation in Africa’s economic future.

The forum, covering a market of 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of over $3 trillion, is expected to serve as a flagship platform for consolidating AfCFTA gains and driving Africa’s long-term economic transformation.