The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has the potential to revolutionise intra-African trade, attract investment, and speed up industrialisation across the continent. After the success of the 2025 edition, which received widespread positive feedback from participants, MillaSA is pleased to announce the 2026 AfCFTA Policy, Trade, and Investment Forum, focused on strengthening engagement on key issues such as customs harmonisation, rules of origin, digital trade, and gender inclusion.
This year’s forum will focus on policy alignment across SADC, direct engagement with AfCFTA institutions, and the active inclusion of women entrepreneurs in continental trade mechanisms. It will build on feedback from 2025 delegates who appreciated the quality of speakers and content, while also considering suggestions for increased visibility, better advertising, and wider African Union participation.
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development and management of sustainable energy. We create a total
continuous learning experience for delegates. We serve!
Anathi Mlungwana
DIRECTOR: LOGISTICAL SERVICES | DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Jo-Ann Johnston
Head of Department |
Western Cape Government: Department
of Economic Development and Tourism
MS cynthia Gnassingbé-Essonam
DIRECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS | AFCFTA SECRETARIAT
MMC for Economic Growth | City of Cape Town
Trade, Finance and Infrastructure lawyer | UORII
Acting Deputy Director General: Strategic Economic Accelerators and Development | Department of Economic Development and Tourism
CEO | Ecommerce Forum Africa
Founder and CEO | SME Chamber South Africa
Founder & CEO Crafts with Meaning
Director in the Indirect Tax & International Trade Practice | Andersen
Visiting Scholar | Ludwig Maximilians Universitat muchen, Germany
Trade Policy Advisor | Giz - Programme Support to the AFCFTA - Zambia
University of Pretoria
Board Director | Impact Center for Policy Research
Chief Research Officer | Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town
CEO | GS1 South Africa
Principal Trade Advisor
Former Advisor and MIF, International Trade Centre
SARCHI Chair Holder| SARCHI Chair on Borders and the AfCFTA, University of Zululand, South Africa
Post Doctoral Research Fellow | SARCHI Chair on Borders and the AfCFTA, University of Zululand
07:30 Registration and Welcome Coffee
08:00 Opening Remarks Keynote – Ms Cynthia Gnassingbé-Essonam | Director Private Sector Engagement & Communications | AfCFTA Secretariat
08:30 Ilse van Schalkwyk | Acting Deputy Director General: Strategic Economic Accelerators and Development | Department of Economic Development and Tourism
Topic: Digital trade and the rise of e-commerce in African value chains
09:00 Alderman James Vos | MMC for Economic Growth | City of Cape Town
Topic: TBA
09:30 Dr Calistus Abang | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | SARCHI Chair on Borders and the AfCFTA, University of Zululand
Topic: Informal cross-border trade and the AfCFTA implementation
10:00 Tea Break
10:30 Yamani Selana | Indirect Tax: Customs & International Trade | Andersen
Topic: TBA
11:00 Dr Noncedo Vutula | Chief Research Officer | Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town
Topic: Driving Investment through Regional Value Chains
11:30 Caroline Ng’ang’a I Founder & CEO I Crafts with Meaning
Topic: Women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses engaging in cross-border trade
12:30 Beaulah Chombo | Board Director | Impact Centre for Policy Research – Zambia
Topic: Gender inclusion and empowering women in cross-border trade
13:00 Lunch and Networking
1400 Prof. Innocent Moyo | SARCHI Chair Holder| SARCHI Chair on Borders and the AfCFTA, University of Zululand, South Africa
Topic: Reconceptualizing borders as bridges towards the AfCFTA implementation and regional integration
14:30 Panel:
15:30 Closing Remarks from Chairperson
15:45 Networking Tea Break: End of Conference – Day 1
07:30 Registration and Welcome Coffee
08:00 Opening Remarks Keynote – Jo-Ann Johnston | Head of Department | Western Cape Government: Department of Economic Development and Tourism
08:30 Yolisa Ngxabazi | Trade, Finance and Infrastructure lawyer | UORII
Topic: How effective trade facilitation mechanisms can accelerate AfCFTA implementation and enhance competitiveness across the African market
09:00 Alastair Tempest | CEO | Ecommerce Forum Africa
Topic: Digital Trade and E-commerce Supply Chains
09:30 Wilfred Tshuma | Founder and CEO | SME Chamber South Africa
Topic: ME Sector – The Saviour Sector – Forget the usually known boring facts
10:00 Tea Break
10:30 Tapiwa Ronald Cheuka | Former Advisor and MIF, International Trade Centre
Topic: Digital Trade as AfCFTA’s Implementation Engine: Interoperability, Trust, and Inclusive Value Chains
11:00 Prof Joe Amadi-Echendu | University of Pretoria
Topic: Capabilities to Capacitate Implementation of AfCFTA
11:30 Dr Gideon H Chitanga | Visiting Scholar | Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Germany
Topic: AfCFTA protocols on investment, e-commerce, and dispute resolution
12:00 Priscilla Chitimwango | Trade Policy Advisor | GIZ Programme AfCFTA – Zambia
Topic: ·Digital trade and the rise of e-commerce in African value chains
12:30 Zinhle Tyikwe | CEO | GS1 South Africa
Topic: Border without Barriers
13:00 Lunch and Networking
14:00 DR Willie Shumba | Principal Trade Advisor |
Topic: How effective trade facilitation mechanisms can accelerate AfCFTA implementation and enhance competitiveness across the African market
14:30 Panel:
15:00 Closing Remarks from Chairperson
15:15 Networking Tea Break: End of Conference – Day 2
Cost per person
NB: Price is in South African Rand. Price displayed excludes VAT.
