From 14 to 16 May 2025, ACBF hosted the second Regional Training Workshop in Libreville, Gabon, under the theme “Bridging Anglophone and Francophone Markets through Trade Facilitation, SME Partnerships and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Value Chains.

The workshop, held under ACBF’s Capacity Development for Africa’s Structural Transformation (CADAST) initiative, brought together 50 stakeholders from nine African countries, including Benin, Botswana, Comoros, Gabon, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Zimbabwe, to strengthen cross-border collaboration and fast-track AfCFTA implementation.

Officially opened by Madame Zenaba Gninga Chaning, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Trade and SMEs/SMIs of Gabon, the event was organized in partnership with the Centre for Regional Integration in Africa (CRIA) and Phanerosis Global Platform, with support from the African Development Bank, Afreximbank, and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

This hybrid training featured sessions on AfCFTA protocols, payment systems, trade negotiations, dispute resolution, and SME integration. Participants also visited Gabon’s Food Safety Agency (AGASA) to explore how national institutions can support trade readiness.

With strong participation from women and youth-led enterprises, the workshop emphasized practical capacity building and inclusive networks as essential drivers of Africa’s trade potential.

Testimonials from the CADAST Workshop

Participants shared how the workshop deepened their understanding of AfCFTA implementation and inspired them to act as champions of regional integration: