Firm Boosts SMEs, Commits to Intra-African Trade

Compass Global Business Services has successfully wrapped up the second edition of its West Africa Meets East Africa Trade Mission and Business Development Tour, thereby committing itself to intra African trade.

This dual-country initiative, spanning Kenya and Tanzania, aimed to unlock opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for women and youth by leveraging regional value chains and fostering essential business linkages.

The programme, themed ‘Unlocking the AfCFTA Opportunity for Women and Youths,’ builds on the success of its inaugural edition in Kenya in March 2023. It focused on advancing intra-African trade, especially for SMEs, women, and young entrepreneurs. Supported by Afreximbank, the UNDP, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and FEWACCI, the mission provided guidance on navigating exports and trade within the AfCFTA framework, helping SMEs establish key business partnerships.

Compass Global’s CEO, Tokunbo Chiedu, highlighted that the primary goal of the initiative is to empower SMEs to tap into the $22 billion intra-African trade potential. “This initiative provides valuable guidance on exports and trade within the AfCFTA, helping SMEs expand their economic horizons,” she said.

Since its launch in 2022, Compass Global has organized regional events in four countries, benefiting over 1,000 SMEs, women, and youth entrepreneurs engaged in trade across 22 African nations.

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The programme also received strong support from strategic partners such as the Association of Nigeria Women Business Network, Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the East Africa Women in Business Platform, among others.

Additionally, the efforts of AWEP West Africa president Comfort Adjahoe-Jennings, who led a team of SME exporters and youth entrepreneurs, were crucial to the program’s success.

Looking ahead, Compass Global plans to expand the initiative in 2025 to include additional regions such as Central Africa, North Africa, and South Africa, further strengthening its network and market intelligence to support Africa’s SMEs.