As African governments and businesses push to transform the continent’s free trade pact into real cross-border deals, the second African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) business forum will take place in Marrakech on December 11 and 12.
Organizers said the meeting will connect African businesses with concrete opportunities in trade, investment, and partnerships, and will bring together government officials, economic institutions, and private-sector leaders from across Africa.
The forum will focus on the practical aspects of the AfCFTA rollout. a pan-African agreement adopted in 2018 that includes all 54 countries on the continent whose combined economies are more than USD 3.4 trillion.
Trade officials said the first AfCFTA held in Morocco in 2024 launched structured talks on African economic integration. They described Marrakech as “a natural host city” due to its growing role in global economic diplomacy.
This year’s forum centered on accelerating implementation, and sessions will address trade facilitation, logistics, digital trade systems, access to finance, and business regulations. Organizers plan direct meetings between firms seeking partners across borders.
Industry representatives said talks will target sectors that range from agribusiness to renewable energy. Draft documents for the forum pointed to a push for regional value chains and stronger intra-African trade.
Morocco will participate in the forum to back its wider strategy on South-South cooperation. Officials pointed to the low share of trade between African countries, which several institutions place near 15%, as proof that the free trade zone still holds untapped potential.
Business groups in Morocco said the forum will help local companies expand across African markets and seek new investment flows from the continent and beyond. Many firms also expect clearer guidance on AfCFTA rules, procedures and funding tools.
Organizers said the continental trade pact could help African economies absorb external shocks and support job creation if businesses use it at scale.
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