he Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, has met President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo in Brazzaville, where he called for practical steps to open up African trade to women and young entrepreneurs.
The meeting took place on 23 October 2026 on the sidelines of the HerAfCFTA Regional Conference for Central Africa, held from 21 to 23 October 2026 and organised by the Government of the Republic of the Congo with the AfCFTA Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Commission.
Mene briefed the President on the progress of AfCFTA implementation and how to turn the agreement into real benefits for businesses and citizens.
His priorities included better market access for businesses led by women and young people, access to trade finance, the use of digital technology to connect businesses across borders, and the removal of structural and administrative barriers that keep women-led businesses out of regional and continental value chains.
In his closing remarks, Mene called for "a practical action plan capable of delivering measurable results within the next 12 months."
He also endorsed the Republic of the Congo's decision to introduce visa-free entry for African nationals from 1 January 2027.
The conference also proposed a regional HerAfCFTA network in Central Africa to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnerships among women entrepreneurs.
Looking ahead, the 12-month action plan is expected to give Central African women and youth a clearer path into the single market, underscoring the AfCFTA's push to make free trade work for smaller businesses.
