The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat has signed major partnership agreements with Ecobank and Africa Global Logistics in a move aimed at strengthening intra-African trade, improving logistics, and expanding access to trade finance across the continent.
The agreements are expected to support businesses operating under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework by addressing some of the biggest barriers to regional trade, including limited financing, high transport costs, fragmented logistics systems, and payment inefficiencies.
Under the partnership with Ecobank, the pan-African lender will expand financial solutions tailored to businesses trading across African borders. This includes trade finance support, payment systems, and banking infrastructure designed to help African small and medium-sized enterprises participate more effectively in continental commerce.
The banking group already operates in more than 30 African countries and has positioned itself as one of the leading institutions supporting the AfCFTA agenda through cross-border payment systems and digital trade platforms.
Meanwhile, the agreement with Africa Global Logistics is expected to focus on improving cargo movement, port connectivity, and supply chain efficiency across Africa. Logistics bottlenecks remain one of the major obstacles to intra-African trade, with businesses often facing delays, high freight costs, and inconsistent customs procedures.
The AfCFTA Secretariat believes stronger coordination between financial institutions and logistics operators will help unlock greater trade flows within Africa, where intra-continental trade still remains relatively low compared to regions such as Europe and Asia.
The AfCFTA, which officially entered into operational phase in recent years, aims to create a single African market covering more than 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP estimated at over $3 trillion. The agreement seeks to progressively eliminate tariffs, reduce non-tariff barriers, and deepen economic integration across the continent.
Trade experts have repeatedly argued that improving access to finance and transport infrastructure will be critical if Africa is to fully benefit from the free trade area. Many African businesses still struggle to trade efficiently across borders due to currency issues, financing gaps, weak infrastructure, and costly logistics systems.
The latest agreements come as African institutions intensify efforts to operationalise the AfCFTA beyond policy announcements and move toward practical implementation that directly benefits businesses and exporters.
Observers say the collaboration could particularly benefit sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and digital commerce, where demand for faster payments and reliable logistics continues to grow.
The AfCFTA Secretariat, based in Accra, has increasingly focused on partnerships with banks, logistics firms, and technology companies as it attempts to build the infrastructure required for continent-wide trade integration.
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