PODCAST | 09 October 2025 Africa Trade: More Than Just Tariffs, Unlocking Opportunities Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Africa Trade: More Than Just Tariffs, Unlocking Opportunities SHARE AfCFTA Series | Episode 05 More than just tariffs: unlocking opportunities in services and investment. Ready to move beyond borders? This episode dives deep into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), exploring the immense opportunities in services and investment that extend far beyond simple import tariff reductions over the next decade. Absa Corporate Investment Bank · Africa Trade: More Than Just Tariffs, Unlocking Opportunities The Host and Featured guest Francois Fouche Research Fellow at the Centre for African Management and Markets, GIBS Sajid Bodhy Head of Transactional Services: Wholesale, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, Mauritius Sajid Bodhy: "While tariffs grab headlines, NTBs [non-tariff barriers] are often the silent, yet significant, cost multipliers for businesses." Sajid Bodhy, Head of Transactional Services: Wholesale, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, Mauritius Francois Fouche: “The services sector is indeed ripe for growth, and it often acts as a critical enabler for goods trade. In our research we emphasise the need for businesses to understand these nuances to fully capitalise on the AfCFTA's services protocol.” Francois Fouche, Research Fellow at the Centre for African Management and Markets, GIBS Related Podcasts Episode 6 Balancing gains and pains: the on-the-ground realities and practical support. How do African businesses turn a trade vision into a profitable reality? This final, action-oriented episode focuses on the on-the-ground realities of AfCFTA implementation, addressing critical challenges and detailing the practical support available to businesses, particularly SMMEs. Absa Group AfCFTA Series Africa Trade: Balancing Gains and Pains, Practical Realities and Support Balancing gains and pains: the on-the-ground realities and practical support. How do African businesses turn a trade vision into a profitable reality? This final, action-oriented episode focuses on the on-the-ground realities of AfCFTA implementation, addressing critical challenges and detailing the practical support available to businesses, particularly SMMEs. Episode 4 Navigating the new trade deal. Ready to unlock a market of 1.3 billion people? This foundational episode of "Africa Trade Unlocked" is your essential guide to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), often hailed as the world's largest free trade area since the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Absa Group AfCFTA Series Navigating the New Africa Trade Deal Navigating the new trade deal. Ready to unlock a market of 1.3 billion people? This foundational episode of "Africa Trade Unlocked" is your essential guide to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), often hailed as the world's largest free trade area since the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Episode 3 Boitumelo Thoka, Michelle Knowles and Francois Fouche Head of Distribution, Syndication and Insurance Products: Trade and Working Capital at Absa CIB, Head of Trade & Working Capital Product at Absa Group and Gordon Institute of Business Science Absa Group AfCFTA Series How The AfCFTA will enable digital trade In this podcast, we explore the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area’s protocol on digital trade. What will it mean for cross-border trade, and what do African businesses need to know?
