SOUTH AFRICA MOVES TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND YOUTH THROUGH CONTINENTAL TRADE REFORM

South Africa commits to dismantle structural barriers that have long excluded women and young people from the heart of intra-African trade.

South africa African continental free trade area Support youth- and women-led enterprises Intra-african trade Africa.

South Africa Officially RatifY the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade

In a landmark step towards inclusive economic growth, South Africa has officially ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, committing to dismantle structural barriers that have long excluded women and young people from the heart of intra-African trade.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced at the High-Level G20 Intergenerational Roundtable in Johannesburg on Friday, calling the ratification “a decisive policy action” that underscores South Africa’s intent to mainstream gender and youth equity within trade frameworks.

“This milestone is not just a symbolic gesture,” Mashatile said. “It is a decisive policy action that signals our intent to mainstream gender and youth equity within intra-African trade policy.”

The AfCFTA Protocol, adopted in 2022, legally binds signatory states to prioritize access to finance, dismantle market entry barriers, and create inclusive legal and policy frameworks that support youth- and women-led enterprises. For South Africa, the ratification means these commitments must now be embedded in national trade practices and economic planning.

With Africa’s youth population projected to double by 2050, Mashatile emphasized the need to shift young people from the periphery to the center of economic decision-making. “They must be co-architects of our development,” he said.

In line with this, the South African Presidency has established a specialised unit tasked with identifying and removing red tape that stifles youth entrepreneurship. The reforms will target key sectors such as mining, tourism, and the informal economy, areas ripe for youth participation.

South Africa’s broader approach, Mashatile noted, includes institutionalising intergenerational governance, integrating youth voices into the country’s G20 priorities, and expanding cross-border trade opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

The AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade is designed to ensure that Africa’s economic integration benefits not only established players but also those historically left behind, making the continent’s trade future more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.

Comments

You must be logged in to comment.

SOUTH AFRICA MOVES TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND YOUTH THROUGH CONTINENTAL TRADE REFORM

Comments

Read more articles like this

TUNISIA POSITIONS ITSELF AS GATEWAY TO SUB-SAHA...

MOROCCO MOVES TO SAFEGUARD AGRIFOOD INNOVATION ...

TIB UNLOCKS LONG-TERM CAPITAL TO FORMALIZE AND ...

Quick Links

Legal & Policy