Abuja – Customs officials from across Africa are gathered in Abuja, Nigeria, this week for the 11th Meeting of the AfCFTA Subcommittee on Trade Facilitation, Customs Cooperation and Transit, with the aim of making cross-border trade faster, simpler and more predictable across the continent.
The meeting comes at a time when Eswatini, like many other African nations, stands to benefit significantly from smoother continental trade flows. The Kingdom relies heavily on South Africa as a trading corridor, and any reduction in border delays and customs costs could open new opportunities for Swazi exporters accessing wider African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
The discussions in Abuja are focused on several key implementation priorities, including the AfCFTA e-Certificate of Origin, continental digital customs initiatives, transit procedures, the Single Bond Guarantee Scheme, Authorised Economic Operators, customs capacity building, coordinated border management, and Simplified Trade Regime Regulations. 
These initiatives are designed to reduce trade costs, improve the movement of goods across borders, and support the broader implementation of the AfCFTA across its 55 member states.
On the sidelines of the 22nd Tunisia Investment Forum in Tunis, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene pointed to the agreement’s growing track record as evidence that it is delivering results on the ground. Tunisia, which was among the first countries to sign, ratify and begin trading under the AfCFTA, is now positioned to serve as a gateway into African markets more broadly.
Mene called for stronger regional value chains, fewer barriers to trade and investment, and a more self-reliant and competitive Africa, one where women and youth are fully included and where businesses operate within a secure legal framework across borders.
The broader prize on offer is a single market of 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of 3.4 trillion US dollars.
