The second forum of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was held on Thursday, May 30, 2024 in Conakry under the presidency of Dr. Diaka Sidibé, Minister of Trade, Industry and SMEs, chaired by Dr. Diaka Sidibé, Minister of Trade, Industry and SMEs. This area of trade within the Single Market offers an excellent opportunity for operators to present the difficulties they encounter in their import or export procedures.

The forum aims to support Guinean economic operators so that they can find their place in this vast inter-African market. For several hours, economic operators, bankers and other experts discussed commercial issues in the single market through the popularization of a new networking platform designed by Ecobank

Coming to chair the opening of the forum, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and SMEs, Dr. Diaka Sidibé, explained the major challenge that this economic forum, which raises hope, can have. She also emphasized the need to continue efforts to combat poverty and its determinants, as well as the need for cooperation to strengthen the resilience of African economies. “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is this ambitious bridge between the inevitable continuation of efforts to reduce poverty, which unfortunately is expanding or persisting in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere, and the cooperation without which the delay accumulated by our economies and their narrowness would make any hope of catching up quickly improbable

Bah Dianwadou, CEO of Ecobank Guinea, believes that the challenge of this forum is the essence of economic growth in Africa and sustainable development that propels them to a higher stage. The most important thing, he will say, is to open new markets and opportunities for operators in order to boost the growth and economies of various countries, in particular that of Guinea. “Ecobank was born from the desire of the chambers of commerce in the UEMOA zone to facilitate economic operations between operators in this zone and, naturally, our DNA is to promote this economic integration. Today, we have coverage in Africa of 33 countries, but it was not enough to just create 33 subsidiaries. We must be able to facilitate operations between economic operators within the continent,” he added.