Since yesterday, Thursday, 02 March 2023, the Cameroon National Shippers' Council (CNSC) has been organising a training seminar themed "Empowering women and youths to promote cross-border trade" at the Douala Maritime Museum.

The primary objective of the seminar is to reinforce the capacities of women and youths as well as Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, all major actors of cross-border trade. The goal is to enable participants to make the most of existing foreign trade mechanisms.

The training seminar is one of CNSC's numerous efforts towards the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the effective implementation of the intra-African market under the AfCFTA.

Three major themes presented on Day 1 of the seminar included:

- Opportunities offered by the AfCFTA to Africa’s businesses;

- Government support for the economic empowerment of women engaged in cross-border trade;

- Trade, a gateway for empowering women into foreign trade.

These various themes were respectively presented by national and international experts amongst whom Mrs. Nadia from UNECA, Mr. Martial Mougnol from MINJEC, and Mrs. Magouo Djallo of HABIBA NATURAL CARE.

Day 2, which is the last day of the seminar, will feature a presentation on available options for accessing project financing delivered by Mr. Cedric Donfak of Afriland First Bank.