The Trade Law Centre (TRALAC), in close collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, launched a training programme for women and youths on the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 31 March and 1 April 2025 at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

In light of the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade recently adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, this program aims to equip participants with the tools they need to reap the benefits of the AfCFTA.

At the meeting, four countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Cameroon, were selected to identify SMEs run by women and youths, with a view to providing them with tailored training.

Cameroon was represented at this meeting by a team of officials from the Ministry of Trade and the Cameroon National Shippers' Council (CNSC), notably Mr. Cham Étienne Bama, Technical Adviser No. 1 at the CNSC and Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat of the Ad-hoc Committee charged with implementing the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative in Cameroon. He was accompanied by Mrs. Maliki Aïcha, CNSC Sub-Director for Trade Facilitation and who is also a member of the Ad-hoc Committee. Together, they presented milestone achievements by Cameroon in AfCFTA implementation since October 2022 when the initiative was launched.

At the close of the proceedings, TRALAC pledged to work with national stakeholders towards an effective implementation of the programme.