Although intra-African trade is still low, Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world and the push for intra-African trade is advancing through the likes of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA Agreement envisages that 90% of products would be traded, duty-free on the continent within ten years. As of January 2022, 41 African Union (AU) member states have ratified The Agreement. As The Agreement shifts into its operational phase, South African industrialists need to consider what potential opportunities this agreement will provide in the next 2 to 3 years. They should be informed by what key milestones to look out for and how to respond to the potential opportunities.

In a context where industrialisation and specifically the growth of the manufacturing sector, remain the key mechanisms enabling developing countries and emerging economies to improve their economic and social welfare, the purpose of this course is to explore economic trade trends across the continent and to understand how policy dynamics such as those related to the AfCFTA might influence future developments. The masterclass explores trade strategy options facing those firms seeking to work with the emerging manufacturing ecosystem on the continent.

This one-day masterclass will begin with an overview of the African trade environment, including an overview of trade agreements, trade barriers and trade facilitation measures available to manufacturers. Practically, this masterclass will introduce executives to various approaches to utilise when analysing African markets (covering both the import and export markets) and how to develop regional export strategies to take advantage of manufacturing opportunities on the African continent.

The masterclass will be facilitated by Mbongeni Ndlovu, the Illovo Head of African Trade and Industrialisation at TWIMS.