The corridors of Palais Des Congres de Lomé were alive with movement. Delegates moved briskly between conference halls, exhibition booths buzzed with negotiations in English and French and the scent of spices, leather, roasted coffee, sauces, oils and handcrafted products drifted through the exhibition arena.  From 18–20 May 2026, the third edition of Biashara Afrika, the AfCFTA Business Forum brought together heads of state, policymakers, development institutions, investors, trade agencies and entrepreneurs under the theme: “Powering Africa’s Economic Transformation through the AfCFTA.” 

For three days, Lomé became a meeting point for the continent’s ambitions around regional integration, industrial growth and inclusive economic transformation. Yet beyond the speeches and policy discussions, the forum also highlighted something more practical and immediate: the growing determination to ensure that women, youth and small businesses are not left behind as Africa’s trade landscape evolves. 

Opening the forum, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé called on African countries to move beyond political commitments and accelerate practical trade integration across the continent. He warned that high transport costs, non-tariff barriers and slow border procedures continue to limit Africa’s competitiveness globally. “In a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, no African country can safeguard its interests in isolation,” he said, emphasizing that regional integration has become a strategic necessity for Africa’s future. 

Former President of Niger and AfCFTA Champion Mahamadou Issoufou echoed similar sentiments, describing the AfCFTA as a major opportunity to accelerate industrialization, strengthen regional value chains and reduce dependence on raw material exports. He stressed the need for investment in infrastructure, logistics and digital systems that can support freer movement of goods and services across African markets. 

Throughout the forum, ECoWYERT contributed to critical conversations around inclusive trade, enterprise development and cross-border collaboration, while also creating opportunities for women and youth-led businesses from across Southern and Eastern Africa to connect directly with regional markets, buyers and partners. 

Centering Women and Youth in Africa’s Trade Future 

On the first day of the forum, ECoWYERT participated in a breakout session focused on Women in Trade, providing an opportunity for women and youth-led enterprises to contribute to discussions on market access, inclusion and opportunities for women-led enterprises under the AfCFTA. The conversations reflected a growing recognition that regional integration will only succeed if small businesses, women entrepreneurs and young innovators can meaningfully participate in cross-border trade. 

Throughout the discussions, participants highlighted practical barriers that continue to affect small businesses across the continent; inconsistent trade regulations, limited access to information, logistics constraints and challenges in accessing regional markets. At the same time, there was strong optimism around the opportunities emerging through the AfCFTA, particularly for businesses willing to innovate, collaborate and expand beyond domestic markets. 

That momentum carried into Day Two, where ECoWYERT convened an engaging dialogue bringing together MSMEs, women entrepreneurs and youth-led enterprises to discuss practical pathways toward more inclusive regional trade. The sessions focused on quick-win opportunities for enterprise growth, stronger collaboration between countries and the importance of knowledge sharing across the region. 

The dialogue also helped lay the foundation for three ECoWYERT Communities of Practice for: 

• Women in Trade 

• Trade Promotion Agencies 

• Government Ministries and Policymakers 

The message throughout the sessions remained consistent: inclusive trade requires more than policy declarations. It requires systems, partnerships and support structures that allow smaller enterprises to scale, compete and thrive across borders. These Communities of Practice will continue to grow into critical support structures for entrepreneurs and policymakers.  

Building Cross-Border Partnerships 

For some businesses, the forum produced immediate commercial results. One of the standout moments for the ECoWYERT-supported MSMEs came when Yumbee Honey, a Zambia-based food processing company, secured a contract agreement with Domaloo Market during the forum; a partnership expected to support the introduction and distribution of its products into the Togolese market and potentially wider West Africa. 

Chileshe Chewe, CEO and Founder of Yumbee Honey, described the experience as transformational for her business. “We signed a contract with Domaloo Market, so it’s really exciting,” she said. “We manufacture various marinades and sauces that you’re now going to be seeing in supermarkets right here in Togo. We managed to achieve 100 percent of our goal at Biashara. We’re looking forward to more partnerships across West Africa.” Her company, which produces honey-based sauces and condiments, quickly attracted interest from buyers looking to expand their product offerings with locally produced African brands.