JOHANNESBURG – South Africa is accelerating efforts to expand intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area, positioning itself as a regional leader driving integration and economic transformation across the continent.
At the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 South Africa Business Roadshow held in Johannesburg, officials and business leaders emphasized the urgency of leveraging the continental free trade agreement to open new markets, strengthen value chains and reduce dependence on external economies.
“This is the time to ensure South Africa’s public and private sectors are strategically positioned to seize the immense opportunities that IATF2025 will present,” said Humphrey Nwugo, Afreximbank’s regional director for Southern Africa.
He urged businesses to participate actively in the upcoming Intra-African Trade Fair, set for September 4-10, 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.
The trade fair is expected to draw more than 2,000 exhibitors and 35,000 visitors, with an estimated $44 billion in trade and investment deals projected.
South Africa’s intra-African trade remains a national strength. According to Afreximbank’s 2024 African Trade Report, the country exported $29.6 billion and imported $9.6 billion from African partners in 2023, with intra-African exports accounting for 26.8% of South Africa’s total exports.
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala said the continental free trade area represents a historic opportunity to deepen economic ties with African neighbors, support small businesses, and foster inclusive, job-rich growth.
“Through partnerships and public-private collaboration, we can develop world-class infrastructure across Africa while reducing our reliance on foreign exchange by trading in our own currencies,” he added.
Continental Integration Push
The African Continental Free Trade Area or AfCFTA is a free trade agreement launched in 2021, creating the world’s largest free trade zone by participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organization.
The trade area covers a market of more than 1.3 billion people with a combined gross domestic product exceeding $3.4 trillion.
It aims to boost intra-African trade by eliminating tariffs on 90% of goods, liberalizing trade in services, and addressing regulatory barriers that have historically limited commerce between African nations.
AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene stressed the importance of strengthening regional value chains in sectors such as automotive and agribusiness.
“Despite these headwinds, Africa has the capacity to navigate the challenges, accelerate industrial development, and realise the vision of a fully integrated continent,” he said.
