What tracking mango purée across Africa reveals about free trade
Following a shipment of mango puree across Africa reveals where the AfCFTA is working – and where friction is limiting the continent's trade potential.
Chido Munyati is the Head of Africa, and a Global Leadership Fellow, at the World Economic Forum. Chido previously worked as a lawyer at the leading Swiss law firm, Froriep, and the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
Following a shipment of mango puree across Africa reveals where the AfCFTA is working – and where friction is limiting the continent's trade potential.
Leaders from Africa at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 presented their priorities, including capitalizing on the continent’s demographic dividend and bridging the digital gap.
China has been Africa’s largest trading partner and creditor in recent years but China-Africa economic relations are shifting as the global economy slows.
In the last 10 years the GCC has invested over $100 billion in Africa. This new economic partnership continues to grow — and is proving a win for both blocs.
On route to greater geopolitical and economic sway, youth unemployment in Africa remains a priority that the Africa Continental Free Trade Area can tackle.
The climate finance gap poses a threat to Africa's climate change efforts: adaptation, mitigation and resilience. An innovative financing approach is needed.
The IMF and the World Bank have offered sub-Saharan Africa an additional seat on their boards, aiming to boost Africa’s influence over funding decisions.
The African Union has joined the G20 group of economies, which includes the US, Russia and the EU, giving the continent a voice on global issues.
African leaders called for new worldwide taxes to fund climate action. The Nairobi Declaration was issued at the end of the Africa Climate Summit in Kenya.
Africa’s fast-growing youth population has the potential to drive global growth in the same way as China’s young workers once powered the global economy.
Under the AfCFTA, players in Africa's automotive industry will benefit from a single market of 1.3 billion people. Companies like Volkswagen are taking notice.
Under the AfCFTA agreement, fragmented regulatory systems will be harmonized, and intra-African trade in medicines and pharmaceuticals is set to grow.
For too long, Africa's struggling logistics sector and infrastructure have held back the continent's dynamic private sector. Under the AfCFTA, that is set to change.
Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, Africa’s need to import so much will be reduced, and domestic processing capacity boosted massively.
The World Economic Forum, AfCFTA Secretariat and Forum partners' new report reveals how global business can leverage the new trade area’s opportunities.






