African Trade Moves from Policy to Practice: First Private Sector Hearing Launched

African Trade Moves from Policy to Practice: First Private Sector Hearing Launched

JOHANNESBURG – The Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) and the AfCFTA Secretariat have launched the inaugural African Private Sector Hearing (APSH) as a side event of the 2025 G20 Summit.

Breaking away from traditional conference formats, the APSH serves as a “problem-solving forum” where businesses present real-world trade bottlenecks directly to policymakers.

Key Challenges & Solutions Raised:

• Customs Friction: DHL Express called for harmonized documents and a continental “de minimis” threshold to reduce the “friction tax” on goods.

• Border Delays: Tamati Logistics (Kenya) advocated for corridor-based reforms and rapid-response mechanisms for non-tariff barriers.

• Air Connectivity: UTICA (Tunisia) highlighted the lack of direct cargo links between North and East Africa, proposing a dedicated air corridor to support SMEs.

• Digital Gaps: BARATOU (Guinea) emphasized the need for better digital infrastructure and interoperability to facilitate B2B trade.

Turning Cases into Action H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, welcomed the initiative, noting that direct feedback is vital for successful implementation. Moving forward, the APSH will become a standing instrument of the AfCFTA, with immediate plans to launch corridor-focused pilot reforms and a formal policy brief to track progress into 2026.

As PACCI Executive Director Kebour Ghenna stated: “If Africa wants to trade as one market, we must operate as one system.”

Read More:

https://www.pacci.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Africa-Launches-First-Ever-Private-Sector-Hearing-on-Trade-Facilitation-Under-the-AfCFTA.pdf