Africa Desk Chairman on bridging current trade barriers in Africa

In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, the Africa Desk Chairman, Patient Sayiba Tambwe, highlighted the significance of overcoming the current trade barriers in Africa. Tambwe emphasized the importance of bridging divides and enhancing trade relationships within the continent. He shed light on the mission of Africa Desk, which serves as an advisory consultancy and implementation entity for Pan-African institutions. The organization is dedicated to working with governments and various stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA). Tambwe outlined the four key pillars of their work, including trade facilitation, transport and logistics, regional integration, and communication and advocacy. He stressed the essential role of communication in raising awareness and promoting collaboration across Africa. One of the recent milestones for Africa Desk was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Egyptian Businessmen Association (EBA). This partnership aims to foster cooperation and promote the objectives of the AfCFTA agreement. The EBA, a non-governmental institution representing 1,500 companies across various sectors, is seeking to expand its reach and engage with businesses in other African regions. By collaborating with the EBA, Africa Desk hopes to amplify the benefits of intra-Africa trade and drive continental economic integration. Tambwe expressed optimism about future collaborations and indicated that discussions were underway for additional MOUs and contracts with various institutions in Africa. He underscored the commitment to not only facilitate trade within the continent but also to realize the vision of a thriving intra-Africa trade ecosystem as envisioned by the AfCFTA Secretariat.