History was made. It was March 2018 in the Rwandan Capital, Kigali. That year, 52 African heads of states and Governments converged with the sole purpose of signing a pact that would allow an estimated 1.2 billion people to trade amongst themselves with ease. That pact came to be known as The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), currently ratified by all parties except, Eritrea.

African economies have a combined Gross Domestic Product of $3.4 trillion, but sadly trades internally at 14 per cent and the rest of the trade is with Europe, Asia and America.

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“That puts the continent at a disadvantage. Intra-trading would enable the continent retain foreign exchange and encourage the growth of many industries locally,” says Mr Charles Ocici, the executive director of Enterprise Uganda, who is one of the panellists at the Second Kampala Strategic Leaders’ Summit.

The Strategic Leaders’ Summit is a conference organised to connect Africa’s eminent business leaders, high level SME Operators, Investors, Bankers and Policy makers on the same platform. One of the key objectives of the Summit is to connect the business brains on the continent to share ideas and compare notes on how SMEs in Africa can tap into the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and Digital Innovation for SMEs Growth without being left out in the game of the continental agreement and technological revolution.

“African countries are geographically endowed differently. That, in itself, presents enormous opportunities for the continent,” he adds.

Exploring the hidden opportunities of AfCFTA, at this year’s Summit that will be held on the 27 of February at Sheraton Kampala Hotel, will be done by experts carefully selected to enable you ‘see’ opportunities the agreement provides and the strategies you need to tap into them.

Mr Ocici, one of the speakers at the Summit, outlines some of the opportunities here of which detailed strategies as to how to be a key a player in them will be looked at the summit:

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Opportunities in tourism.

Are you living in East or West Africa, did you know that these regions are endowed with tremendous unique flora and fauna opportunities that you can tap into? The Free Trade Agreement will make it easier for Africans to tour their heritage than spending that dollar in developed countries.

It will make travels across the continent much easier and faster than it is today. Have you thought of opportunities that you can tap into in this area? You attending this year’s Summit will open your mind to great opportunities.

Trade.

Why would Kenya, for example, import Mexican maize yet Kapchorwa in Uganda, which borders it, has rotting maize?

“This is the real essence of AfCFTA, to increase intra-trade on the continent”. But how can SMEs tap into this trade with ease then?

In addition, Africa is estimated to have more than 874 million hectares of arable land, and yet only 274 million hectares are optimally utilised. With the growing population, the Summit panellist will help you see opportunities in this area where you can invest with minimal risks but still reap immensely.

Manufacturing.

Many manufactured goods on the continent are from Europe, Asia and America. Does this mean there are no African countries doing well or prospering in this sector? Well the answer is there are promising countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia among others. How can we utilise the available technology to spread the gospel of industrialisation on the continent that will create the much-needed jobs and revenue?

I invite you to join the discussions where answers will be provided. Don’t miss the 2nd Kampala strategic Leaders’ summit on the 27th of February at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel. Click here to book your ticket and find out more at the summit.