Over 100 local enterprises participated in the ‘How to Export with the AfCFTA’ workshop, organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) across the continent.
During the workshop in Cotonou, 20 Beninese trainers were trained to conduct their own workshops to continue spreading free-trade knowledge to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
‘Exporting is a complex process for a company,’ mentioned ITC expert Ilyas Choubaili, who led the training. ‘It involves preparation, readiness for export, optimizing cross-border trade, logistics, market penetration, risk assessment, and understanding financing for intra-African exports.’
The newly trained instructors led the business leaders in the second phase of the workshop focusing on the technical aspects, export opportunities, and financial benefits of the AfCFTA.
The workshop also addressed logistics challenges, selecting export markets, complying with export documents, and understanding intra-African trade regulations.
Ludmila Azo, the country manager at ITC, highlighted the demand within the AfCFTA for Beninese products and services, emphasizing the need to enhance competitiveness and equip SMEs for better exporting.
The workshop was in collaboration with the Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Investment and Export Promotion Agency (APIEx Benin).
Supported by various organizations including the Benin Chamber of Commerce, APIEx Benin, Beninese Customs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, the ‘training of trainers’ was a collaborative effort.
The event utilized ITC’s new digital workshop format with presentations, videos, exercises, and conferences to facilitate interactive sharing and exchange. Stakeholders including ITC trainers, African Trade Observatory representatives, Benin Customs, and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) participated.
Benin, one of the signatories of the AfCFTA agreement, is yet to ratify it. ITC and Afreximbank offer free online training to support small businesses, with the recent workshop in Benin receiving support from the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.