Wheels of Trade

SME financing will drive AfCFTA, says UBA’s Muyiwa Akinyemi

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By Jonas Nyabor

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Posted on July 28, 2023 15:01

W Africa The port of Lomé (Togo), managed by MSC and Bolloré, is thriving as a regional hub ©àprésent
The port of Lomé (Togo), managed by MSC and Bolloré, is thriving as a regional hub ©àprésent

UBA’s Muyiwa Akinyemi urges for a deliberate, concerted effort to boost SME access to financing across Africa.

The missing catalyst that can kickstart Africa’s free trade agreement is small-business financing, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group’s Muyiwa Akinyemi says. Companies that have participated in AfCFTA’s guided trade initiative are mainly large-scale businesses and multinationals operating on the continent. 

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