The 2025 AfCFTA Conference focused on unlocking the potential of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and financial institutions, to explore strategies for empowering MSMEs to access new opportunities in a unified African market. With 44 million MSMEs operating in Sub-Saharan Africa, including 3 million in South Africa, these enterprises play a critical role in driving intra-African trade and industrialisation.
The conference highlighted the importance of equipping MSMEs with practical tools and support, such as business plan development, improved operational efficiency, access to finance and innovation, and market access through cross-border trade facilitation. It also addressed the AfCFTA Private Sector Strategy, which prioritises four key sectors: pharmaceuticals, automotive, agro-processing, and transport and logistics.
Discussions further explored the need for supportive government policies and initiatives aimed at lowering trade barriers and creating a conducive business environment. Speakers emphasised that meaningful public-private collaboration, targeted capacity-building, and tailored support mechanisms are essential to ensure
MSMEs not only survive but thrive under AfCFTA.
