The findings of the World Bank report published last week – that the #AfCFTA will boost growth and reduce poverty – will not come as a surprise to many.

But one area of focus is nonetheless reassuring – the place for AfCFTA in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.

Where possible, governments should be seeking to open up borders and remove levies as quickly as possible to accelerate their recoveries, rather than resorting to protectionism.

“We very much hope that we will see the launch of AfCFTA in January 2021.” says Scipion Capital’s Deputy Director Tim Ellis. “But that will need to be coupled with improvements in logistics, infrastructure and border processing times for the pact to truly fulfill its potential.”