AFRICAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS GEAR UP TO DRIVE AFRICA’S $3.4 TRILLION TRADE REVOLUTION

African Women entrepreneurs gear up to seize AfCFTA opportunities.

Africa Women entrepreneur Afcfta Continental trade Smes Business.
African Women Entrepreneurs
African Women Entrepreneurs


African women entrepreneurs are stepping forward as pivotal players in shaping the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positioning themselves not just as participants but as trailblazers in the continent’s unfolding trade revolution.

At SheConnectsAfrica 2025, a three-day workshop held in Lagos, over eighty business leaders gathered to chart strategies for scaling women-led enterprises across borders. Backed by Germany’s development ministry, GIZ, and the ECOWAS Commission, the initiative underscored that the future of AfCFTA’s $3.4 trillion potential will hinge on women’s inclusion and leadership in trade.

Though women own nearly 40 percent of Africa’s small businesses, their footprint in regional export markets remains limited. Yet, workshop organisers emphasised that unlocking this potential could generate billions in new trade flows, particularly in light manufacturing and services sectors where women-led enterprises are already making inroads.

Participants engaged in expert sessions on cross-border trade rules, tax compliance, and digital trust, while local lenders introduced SME-focused financing models to support regional expansion. For many attendees, it was the first time financial institutions openly presented pathways to fund international ventures led by women.

“AfCFTA cannot succeed without women,” one facilitator remarked, stressing the importance of linking policy reforms with practical tools that allow female entrepreneurs to compete on an equal footing.

Beyond training, the workshop served as a call to action demanding sustained financing, streamlined trade facilitation, and stronger visibility for women-led enterprises in continental supply chains.

As AfCFTA takes shape, women are increasingly viewed as the catalysts of a more inclusive African economy. Initiatives like SheConnectsAfrica are not only bridging knowledge gaps but also carving out early advantages for women determined to drive the continent’s trade future.

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