Africa
In recent years, Africa has aimed to increase its international trade through economic reforms and regional integration efforts. The region's key exports consist of raw materials such as oil, gas, minerals, food and other agricultural products, while imports are primarily composed of manufactured goods, machinery, and transportation equipment. African nations regularly trade with partners outside of the continent including the European Union and China. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is the largest existing free trade area in terms of number of participants. Bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight (8) Regional Economic Communities, the AfCFTA aims to create a single market, facilitating trade and foreign direct investment across the continent. Particularly, the AfCFTA aims to boost services trade in Africa, as African services accounted for less than 1.5% of global exports and 2.5% of global imports in 2021. Several African countries and territories are also part of regional economic communities, such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area (PAFTA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), working to enhance trade and integration. These efforts promote the development of regional value chains and the movement of goods, services, and people across borders.
View ResourceDigital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation: Global Report 2025
This report presents the results of the sixth United Nations (UN) Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation with targeted SME questions.
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MSMEs , Value Chain and trade development in Southern Africa
In the present study, the authors analyse how Southern African micro-, small and medium[1]sized enterprises (MSMEs) are using innovations and technologies to integrate themselves into value chains and better utilize trade agreements. The countries analysed and visited were Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.
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Impact of Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine on MSMEs
A set of 11 country reports and 1 regional report, joint with SADC Business Council and in each country in collaboration with national business association, on Impact of Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine on MSMEs , (Angola; Botswana; Eswatini; Lesotho; Malawi; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; South Africa; Zambia; Simbabwe; SADC). SEARCH "Impact of Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine on MSMEs" for full list.
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Building linkages between micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises and multinational companies from the global South: the case of Southern Africa
The empirical analysis of linkages in Southern African countries discussed in the present report was conducted based on data collected through two surveys, namely the micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprise survey, which was addressed to local micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and the multinational enterprises survey, which was addressed to local affiliates of foreign multinational enterprises.
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Role of technology incubators in the development of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in selected Southern African countries
This report reviews the role of technology incubators in the development of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in selected Southern African countries.
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Opportunities for Micro-small and Medium-sized Enterprises within the Green and Blue Economies
The report demonstrates the many opportunities available to micro-small and medium-sized enterprises in the green and blue economies in SADC countries. Realizing this potential requires a number of actions to be taken.
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The role of digitalisation in strengthening capacities of Micro, Small and Medium-Size Enterprises (MSMEs in Southern Africa to take advantage of the AfCFTA)
This study on the Role of Digitalisation in Strengthening Capacities of Micro, Small and Medium-size Enterprises (MSMEs) in Southern Africa to take Advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), probes into the network of three critical and connected themes: African MSMEs, Digital Ecosystems and AfCFTA.
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SME Competitiveness in Francophone Africa 2024: Strengthening business ecosystems for exports
Only 14% of francophone African companies export internationally. However, more than half of non-exporting firms, particularly women-led businesses, are eager to enter global markets. Financial constraints are holding them back. This report is the seventh in an annual series.
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MSMEs, value chains and trade development in Southern Africa Case studies from selected countries
This study analyzes how Southern African micro-, small, and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) are using innovations and technologies to integrate themselves into value chains and better utilize trade agreements.
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Free Trade Deal Boosts Africa’s Economic Development
A World Bank study, released in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, accounts for the additional benefits that would accrue from an increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) – both from within and outside of Africa – that the deal is expected to generate.
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Trade Facilitation and Gender Dimensions in South Africa
To identify specific challenges that men and women face in cross-border trade and determine where further reforms can be made, the World Bank Group completed a study on Trade Facilitation and Gender Dimensions in South Africa. Traders, customs brokers and freight forwarders were interviewed.
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Gender Provisions in African Trade Agreements
This report is an assessment of the commitments for reconciling women’s empowerment and global trade.
