Senior members of the Rokel Commercial Bank, including the Managing Director, Dr. Walton Gilpin, are in Egypt to attend an Intra-African Trade Fair (IAFT) scheduled to run from 9th-15th November 2023.
As a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, dubbed “The Africa We Want,” the Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) brings together 55 African countries with a combined population of more than 1.2 billion people and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) exceeding US$2.5 trillion, making the continent the largest free trade area created since the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Thus, this year’s IATF is regarded as a gateway into the AfCFTA, and will potentially become the biggest free trade in the world.
The trade fair also supports the implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), promote export and also strengthen trade relations between Sierra Leone and the sub-region.
The theme for the trade fair, “Building Bridges for a successful AfCFTA”, lays emphasis on recognizing growth opportunities for Intra-African cross border trade and investments.