Accra, Ghana, 17 June 2025– The AfCFTA Secretariat successfully hosted a closed webinar with representatives of Africa’s private sector, including national, regional, and continental Business Support Organisations (BSOs), alongside other key stakeholders. Convened as part of the establishment and operationalisation of the AfCFTA Private Sector Platform (AfCFTA PSP), the meeting marked a significant milestone in strengthening structured engagement between the Secretariat and the private sector.
A key outcome of the meeting was the validation and adoption of the Platform’s Terms of Reference and the formalisation of its foundational structures.
The AfCFTA PSP is a structured alliance of enterprises, BSOs, and trade actors committed to advancing the implementation of the AfCFTA. It is designed as a collaborative mechanism to facilitate inclusive, coordinated, and results-oriented engagement between the Secretariat and Africa’s private sector.
The objectives of the Platform include:
• Coordinating private sector contributions to AfCFTA implementation
• Promoting policy dialogue, advocacy, and capacity building
• Facilitating intra-African trade and investment
• Amplifying the voice of underrepresented actors, including MSMEs, women, and youth
The Platform’s initial members reached consensus to appoint the Pan-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) as Chair for a one-year term. The AfCFTA Secretariat will serve as Co-Chair to ensure alignment between the Platform’s strategic decisions and the broader AfCFTA agenda, and to enable seamless communication and coordination.
Participants also expressed strong interest in joining the Platform’s technical Working Groups, which will support its thematic pillars. The active participation of technical partners, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), contributed significantly to the meeting’s success.
Furthermore, the meeting endorsed the concept of the African Private Sector Hearing (APSH), which will serve as a dedicated conduit for structured and responsive engagement between the Secretariat and the organised private sector. Under the Platform’s Policy Dialogue and Advocacy Pillar, the APSH is envisioned as an inclusive space where multiple BSOs can engage the Secretariat on a wide range of trade-related topics. It is designed to be flexible, issue-responsive, and driven by the evolving priorities of the private sector.
The successful hosting of this meeting marks a significant milestone in anchoring the private sector’s role in AfCFTA implementation and strengthening institutional collaboration in support of Africa’s economic integration agenda.
