High costs, inefficient border procedures slow down intra-Africa trade

General view of the Gatuna one-stop border post at Gicumbi, northern Rwanda, on January 31, 2022. 

Photo credit: Reuters

African countries are finding it difficult to trade with each other under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) due to inefficient border procedures, complex documentation requirements and the lack of harmonisation between countries, create major business obstacles, a new report says.

The Driving African Trade through digitalisation report by TradeMark Africa (TMA) says cutting costs and streamlining processes are crucial to realising the continent’s full trade potential.