Africa’s heads of state, policymakers, and leading industrialists are set to gather in Addis Abeba on November 23–24, 2026, for the biennial Africa Trade Development Forum (ATDF), co-hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Regional Integration and TradeMark Africa. The forum comes at a pivotal moment for continental integration, with experts highlighting Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), including regulatory and technical compliance requirements, as major constraints on intra-African trade. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) estimates that removing such barriers could increase intra-African trade by up to 52pc. The 2026 edition will focus on harmonising standards, reducing compliance costs, and strengthening quality certification systems to improve African goods’ access to regional and global markets. “The next phase of Africa’s trade growth will depend on African firms showing that their products are as good as those of anywhere in the world,” said Hailemariam Desalegn. Minister of Trade & Regional Integration (MoTRI), Kassahun Gofe, is expected to host the event, while TradeMark Africa CEO David Beer noted that stronger quality infrastructure is key to improving competitiveness. Building on the Kigali forum, which advanced the “No Stop Border” model, ATDF 2026 will serve as an invitation-only platform aimed at advancing practical trade reforms across the continent.
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