AfCFTA Launches North Africa SME Booster Programme to Expand Intra-African Trade

The Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has launched the North Africa Regional Cohort of the SME Booster Programme in Tunis, Tunisia, as part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to participate more effectively in intra-African trade.

The programme is designed to equip SMEs and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) with practical knowledge and tools to overcome some of the challenges associated with cross-border trade.

Key areas covered include export readiness, standards compliance, digital trade, access to finance, logistics and market access.

Speaking at the launch, Tunisia’s Minister of Trade and Export Development, H.E. Samir Abid, stressed the importance of increasing trade among African countries to build stronger and more resilient economies.

Preparing SMEs for African markets

The AfCFTA Secretariat says many SMEs face significant challenges when attempting to expand beyond their domestic markets.

Businesses often need to understand export procedures, meet standards in destination markets, identify viable commercial opportunities, secure financing and navigate logistics and other cross-border requirements.

The SME Booster Programme seeks to address these challenges by improving the export readiness and competitiveness of participating businesses.

The programme’s focus on standards is intended to help SMEs meet requirements for products and services entering new markets, while its digital trade component reflects the growing role of technology and online platforms in connecting African businesses with customers across borders.

Access to finance and efficient logistics are also being addressed as critical factors in enabling SMEs to scale and compete in regional markets.

Strengthening business support systems

The inclusion of Business Support Organisations in the programme is expected to strengthen the wider ecosystem supporting SMEs.

These organisations provide businesses with information, technical assistance, market intelligence and other services that can help enterprises navigate increasingly competitive regional and international markets.

The AfCFTA Secretariat says strengthening both SMEs and the institutions that support them will contribute to a more sustainable environment for cross-border trade.

Expanding opportunities for African SMEs

The launch of the North Africa Regional Cohort forms part of broader efforts to ensure that businesses across the continent are better positioned to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area.

SMEs are a major part of Africa’s productive and commercial economy, and expanding their ability to access markets beyond national borders could create new business opportunities, strengthen regional value chains and increase intra-African trade.

For participating businesses in North Africa, the SME Booster Programme provides an opportunity to improve their export capabilities, strengthen competitiveness and gain practical knowledge to access markets across the continent.

The initiative reinforces the AfCFTA’s broader objective of creating a more integrated, connected and resilient African market, with SMEs positioned at the centre of continental trade and economic transformation.

Story by Mark Acheamping