By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
African countries and businesses are being urged to take advantage of new financing and support mechanisms designed to help them fully benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as leaders gathered for discussions on the sidelines of Biashara Afrika 2026 in Lomé.
During a high-level fireside chat moderated by Lerato Mbele, Jean-Louis Ekra, Chairman of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, and Emeka Uzomba, Director of the Fund, outlined how the initiative is helping governments and businesses navigate the challenges and opportunities of continental trade integration.
The discussion, held during Biashara Afrika 2026, focused on the critical role of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund in supporting member states and private sector operators as implementation of the landmark trade agreement gathers pace.
Established by the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat under a mandate from the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the Fund provides support through grant, concessional financing, and commercial financing windows.
These instruments are designed to address adjustment costs arising from trade liberalization, finance trade-enabling infrastructure, and strengthen private sector participation across the continent.
Speakers also emphasized the Fund’s commitment to inclusive growth, highlighting targeted support for least developed countries, low-income economies, and enterprises led by women and young entrepreneurs.
With AfCFTA implementation advancing across Africa, eligible governments and businesses were encouraged to explore the opportunities available through the Fund and submit applications through its official platform, positioning themselves to benefit from expanded intra-African trade and investment opportunities.
The conversation underscored a growing consensus among policymakers and business leaders that effective financial support mechanisms will be key to ensuring that the benefits of the AfCFTA are broadly shared and that no country or business is left behind in Africa’s journey toward deeper economic integration.
