Moonshot 2026: Experts call for urgent reforms to unlock intra-African trade {Business Africa}

Experts at Moonshot 2026 in Lagos call for harmonised regulations and seamless digital payments to boost intra-African trade and as Silicon Valley pulls back, home-grown startups are stepping up to shape the continent's digital future.

Intra-African trade remains below 17 per cent of the continent’s total trade, compared with more than 60 per cent in Europe. Despite the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) promising a $3.4 trillion market, regulatory barriers, fragmented financial systems and costly cross-border payments continue to hinder businesses. At Moonshot 2026 in Lagos, experts called for urgent reforms to turn the ambition of a single African market into reality.

Speaking to Business Africa, Adetola Onayemi, Chairman of Norebase, highlighted the gap between trade agreements and their implementation, pointing to persistent obstacles at borders, ports and banks. He called for technology-driven solutions, including standardised business documentation and interconnected digital payment systems, to simplify market entry and reduce transaction costs. Ultimately, he urged businesses to actively use the AfCFTA to expose bottlenecks and push governments to address them, unlocking the agreement’s potential to boost incomes, expand trade and reduce poverty.

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