PODCAST | 09 October 2025 Navigating the New Africa Trade Deal Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Navigating the New Africa Trade Deal SHARE AfCFTA Series | Episode 04 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 Corporate Investment Bank · Navigating the New Africa Trade Deal The Host and Featured guest Francois Fouche Research Fellow at the Centre for African Management and Markets, GIBS Chuene Setati Director: Trade and Working Capital Sales (ARO), Absa Corporate and Investment Banking Chuene Setati: "From Absa’s vantage point, the AfCFTA is less about reshaping the entire landscape and more about expanding it exponentially." Chuene Setati, Director: Trade and Working Capital Sales (ARO), Absa Corporate and Investment Banking Francois Fouche: "It’s clear that while the AfCFTA presents immense opportunities, navigating it effectively requires not just a broad understanding, but also granular insights and practical support.” 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 5 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 Group AfCFTA Series Africa Trade: More Than Just Tariffs, Unlocking Opportunities 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. 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?
