Wednesday, 2 September 2026 | Juba, South Sudan: The East African Business Council (EABC), in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), has empowered over 60 textile, edible oil and leather enterprises on accessing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with its 1.3 billion consumers.
This follows the two day Business Clinic on Market Access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) held in Juba.
The EAC Industrialisation Strategy 2012–2032 aims to raise local value-added content of resource-based exports from an estimated 8.6% to 40% by 2032, and increase intra-regional manufacturing exports relative to total manufactured imports from about 5% to 25% by 2032.
The enterprises were equipped with practical knowledge on market intelligence tools to identify and access new potential markets across the continent.
The enterprises discussed AfCFTA market opportunities, Rules of Origin, tariff concessions, customs procedures and export requirements, alongside one-on-one advisory support on market-entry strategies and export readiness to expand into African markets.
As the onboarding agent for the Afreximbank Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), EABC supported the enterprises in joining the Africa Trade Gateway Platform, enabling them to access business-to-business matchmaking opportunities and trade finance solutions to facilitate trade under the AfCFTA.
The AfCFTA Business Clinic was organised by the East African Business Council (EABC) with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), under the project “Accelerating Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialization in the East African Community (EAC).
