Over 80% of Africa’s exports are shipped overseas mainly to the European Union (EU), China and the US, with the continent trailing behind its counterparts in intra-regional trade at 17% compared to Europe at 69% and Asia at 59%. There are huge benefits in establishing a free trade area among the 1.3bn people (accounting for Africa’s population) with a combined GDP of US$ 2.5 trillion from 54 countries. Free trade could create millions of jobs and reduce unemployment among the continent’s teeming youth population as free trade could be a catalyst for structural change and economic development. Read about how PDF II contributed to Nigeria’s decision to sign up to the AfCFTA.
AfCFTA – Nigeria Signs Up

Associated resources
The lack of improvement and deterioration in Nigeria’s export trade performance rankings such as measures of time and cost associated with exporting and importing a standardized cargo of goods reinforces the need for Nigeria to undertake urgent and extensive reform to improve its trading across borders performance. This research provides immediate, medium and long term reform options.
This report presents a market analysis of the 22 identified products of the Zero-oil initiative providing a comprehensive analysis on the export potentials, key markets, existing value chain, and quality requirements of six (6) key products namely; Soya, sugar, rubber, leather, cocoa beans, and ginder.
Trade Associations play a role in promoting appropriate policies, regulations, and necessary reforms relating to their sector of operations. They create opportunities for networking and consultations among industry players as well as being a voice when it comes to new regulations and legislations while encouraging best practices among its members. According to Peter Gomersall[1], trade associations exist to support their members and further their interests, to defend them when they are under threats and to promote a common position on issues affecting the environment in which they operate.
Given the foregoing, the PDF Bridge Trade Policy Workstream organised a two-day capacity-building session targeted at strengthening the leadership of non-oil export-related trade associations and improve on their business strategy to position them to take advantage of the opportunities in the non-oil export value chain. The sessions had in attendance delegates from government agencies such as FMITI, NAQS, FMARD, NOTN, CBN as well as executives of trade group drawn from various industries including agricultural commodities farmers, agricultural commodities exchange and aggregators, industrialists, agro-processors, women, and youth development groups, textile and apparel among other participants.
[1] https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEDS/article/download/7852/8030
This is the report from a feasibility study conducted on the possibility of constructing a border post and associated infrastructure at Saki West, Oyo State. Conducted in 2012 and funded by FCDO Nigeria Policy Development Facility (FCDO-PDF).
Trade Associations play a role in promoting appropriate policies, regulations, and necessary reforms relating to their sector of operations. They create opportunities for networking and consultations among industry players as well as being a voice when it comes to new regulations and legislations while encouraging best practices among its members. According to Peter Gomersall[1], trade associations exist to support their members and further their interests, to defend them when they are under threats and to promote a common position on issues affecting the environment in which they operate.
Given the foregoing, the PDF Bridge Trade Policy Workstream organised a two-day capacity-building session targeted at strengthening the leadership of non-oil export-related trade associations and improve on their business strategy to position them to take advantage of the opportunities in the non-oil export value chain. The sessions had in attendance delegates from government agencies such as FMITI, NAQS, FMARD, NOTN, CBN as well as executives of trade group drawn from various industries including agricultural commodities farmers, agricultural commodities exchange and aggregators, industrialists, agro-processors, women, and youth development groups, textile and apparel among other participants.
[1] https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEDS/article/download/7852/8030





