BEYOND TRADE: 54 Nations. 20 Million Businesses. One Voice.
We build the systems that make African commerce borderless
Trade increasingly operates across borders.
Africa’s businesses are ready to trade across borders. They have products to sell, capital to invest, and the ambition to build regional markets. What they lack is a system that makes cross-border trade simple, trustworthy, and scalable.
African chambers operate within national systems.
- Standards differ.
- Verification remains national.
- Policy dialogue is often fragmented.
Why PACCI
When chambers align, traders operate with greater certainty.
When representation is unified, governments engage more effectively.
PACCI’s mission is to strengthen Africa’s private sector by coordinating national chambers at continental level, aligning professional standards, and consolidating private sector input into trade and economic policy processes.
We work to ensure that African businesses are represented through structured institutional channels and that cross-border commerce operates within predictable and trusted systems.
Our Institutional Development
PACCI was established in 2009 in response to African Union initiative to increase intra-African trade. The idea was straightforward: chambers are the institutions closest to their business communities. If we strengthened chambers and helped them coordinate, we could accelerate continental trade.
We established a statutory framework and Headquaters in Addis Ababa in 2014 with support from the FDRE-Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We proceeded to build relationships with regional chambers across Africa. We learned what works and what does not.
In its early years, PACCI focused on convening chambers and strengthening inter-regional dialogue.
Over time, the focus shifted toward structured coordination:
aligning standards, formalizing governance processes, and supporting chambers in trade-related institutional development.
Today, PACCI operates as a continental coordination framework supporting deeper economic integration.
Why Chambers Are Different
“When we say ‘chambers,’ we mean something specific. It’s important to understand, because it explains why PACCI has institutional weight.
PACCI is chambers coordinated- which means when PACCI speaks to government, it represents 20 million traders through 54 formal institutions.
There are three main types of business organizations:
Chambers of Commerce
Chambers are different. They represent all private sector in a geographic area. They have formal government mandates (usually enshrined in national law). They are accountable to their membership, not to government. And they sit at policy tables as constituent representatives, meaning when chambers advise government, they speak for traders, not on behalf of government.
Chambers: Private sector → Government (advisory, representative)
Business Associations
They represent a sector or industry (e.g., textile manufacturers, tech entrepreneurs, women business owners). They advocate for their members. They provide services. But they represent one sector, not all business. Membership is voluntary.
Associations: Sector → Market (advocacy, service)
Trade Promotion Organizations
They are government bodies designed to promote exports and attract investment. They are funded by government and implement government trade policy. They are powerful at export promotion, but they answer to government, not private sector.
TPOs: Government → Market (implementation, promotion)
Our Reach
54 National Member Chambers
6 African Regions
20 Million Traders Represented
Through its members, PACCI reflects the diversity and scale of Africa’s private sector.
Our Mandate
PACCI operates as a confederated platform of independent member chambers, associations and business operators.
Its mandate includes:
- Coordinating private sector positions for engagement with continental institutions
- Aligning operational and verification standards across member chambers
- Supporting implementation dialogue related to intra-African trade
- Consolidating documented trader evidence into policy discussions
- Actively contributing to the realization the Africa Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA). Ensuring that the net gains deriving from trade liberalization will support and reinforce the protection of the enabling business environment.
Member chambers retain full national autonomy, governance authority, and revenue control.
Through PACCI, they act collectively at continental scale.
Our Structure
PACCI is governed by its member chambers.
- One national chamber per country holds voting rights.
- The presidency rotates across Africa’s five regions.
- Governance terms are structured to ensure balanced continental representation.
This model preserves equity among regions and reinforces institutional continuity.
18th PACCI Executive Council Meeting in N’Djamena Chad, March 26-27, 2025
Independence
Member chambers remain autonomous national institutions.
Coordination
Continental alignment strengthens national impact
Representation
Private sector input is consolidated through structured institutional channels.
Continuity
Institutional credibility is built through governance discipline and long-term engagement.
How we work
PACCI operates in three core areas.
Continental Representation
PACCI represents African chambers in dialogue with the African Union, regional economic communities, and international institutions.
Member chambers contribute evidence from their traders.
PACCI consolidates this input into coordinated continental positions.
This ensures policy discussions reflect trader realities.
Chamber Coordination
PACCI supports alignment of professional standards across member chambers.
This includes:
- Governance development
- Staff certification in trade facilitation and AfCFTA implementation
- Shared verification protocols
- Cross-border business linkages
Through coordination, a trader verified by one PACCI chamber is recognized by others within the network.
Trade Barrier Identification
Member chambers collect evidence from traders on regulatory and procedural obstacles.
PACCI consolidates findings and engages relevant authorities with documented proposals.
Where reforms occur, chambers monitor outcomes and report back to policymakers.
By 2028, we expect:
- 50+ African chambers operating on unified standards
- 200+ chamber staff certified in AfCFTA implementation and trade facilitation
- 5,000+ verified traders accessing cross-border opportunities
- Real transaction data feeding government policy dialogue
- Chambers funding their own operations through member networks
Based on 15 years of learning what works in African institutions.
FINANCING
The PACCI is financed through its members’ contributions, and services provided to members. The PACCI’s staff is composed of an active volunteer corps whose contribution of time, energy, and idea contributes to make PACCI an effective business organization in the continent.
LOCATION
The main office of PACCI is located in the political capital city of Africa; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is where the African Union is based. Addis Ababa also hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and numerous other continent and international organizations.
Benefits for Members
PACCI membership includes:
- National Chambers of Commerce and Industry
- Sectoral business associations
- Regional chamber bodies
Associate and honorary categories recognize cross-border firms and distinguished leaders.
Through its members, PACCI represents more than 20 million traders across 54 countries.
ACCESS
Access to key African business and government officials through private meetings and special events
ADVISORY SERVICES
Advisory services on the most important issues affecting businesses on the continent
CONFERENCES AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Conferences andspecial events responsible for business events throught the year to reflect key issues affecting business across the continent
TRADE MISSIONS
Trade missions to explore business oppotunities with local business leaders in Africa and beyond
PRIVATE MEETING
Private meeting with African business executives and government officials
SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
Small business assistance to help business get started and point in the right direction
SOCIAL MEDIA
An active social media presence and high engagement levels that allow us to efficiently refer and promote members and their activities
PROVISION OF SPECIALISED SERVICES
Provision of specialised services such as Due diligence, match making and business survey
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