Leveraging AfCFTA Tariff Reductions for Cross-Border Tech Services

Dr. Tidjane Deme

General Partner, Partech Africa

Key Executive Takeaways

AfCFTA Phase II protocols explicitly establish digital trade standards and cross-border data transfer safeguards.
Simplified Certificate of Origin procedures reduce processing times for SME exports by up to 60%.
Payment settlement through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) reduces reliance on third-party foreign currencies.

The African Continental Free Trade Area represents the world's largest free trade zone by number of participating countries. Yet many digital technology startups still operate within national silos.

With the rollout of the PAPSS settlement system, startups in Ghana can now settle B2B transactions directly with partners in Nigeria in local currencies, eliminating foreign exchange conversion penalties.

Understanding rules of origin and regulatory sandbox frameworks allows high-growth startups to expand into neighboring regional economic communities with minimal compliance overhead.

Masterclass Companion Track

Dive Deeper in the Official Masterclass

Watch Dr. Tidjane Deme break down cap table spreadsheets, SAFE agreements, and pitch deck templates in studio 4K.