Mourad Ben Hassine, CEO of the Export Promotion Center (CEPEX), stated that Tunisia has strong assets to reinforce its economic presence across the African continent, relying on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement as well as the rapid growth of digital trade, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Speaking to Expresso on Friday, June 12, 2026, he explained that the meeting organized by CEPEX, in the presence of the AfCFTA Secretary-General, represents an important opportunity for Tunisian companies seeking to export to African markets.
It allows them to discover available mechanisms, exchange experiences, and explore new prospects for economic cooperation across the continent.
Ben Hassine noted that intra-African trade still represents only 16% of the continent’s total trade volume, a figure he considers low given Africa’s significant economic potential.
He added, however, that several programs and initiatives are currently being implemented to accelerate continental economic integration and boost trade between member states.
He also emphasized the importance of digital trade, which he sees as one of the pillars of the future of African commerce.
According to him, Tunisia is among the first African countries participating in pilot projects related to digital trade under the AfCFTA framework.
These initiatives have already enabled export operations using digital certificates of origin, demonstrating the country’s ability to leverage digital transformation to develop its foreign trade.
Ben Hassine further indicated that several African institutions, including the African Development Bank, are supporting projects aimed at addressing logistical, financial, and administrative barriers that still hinder intra-African trade.
These institutions are also working to strengthen the participation of youth and women in economic and commercial activity across the continent.
He argued that small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly startups, are the main drivers of economic growth in Africa. He stressed that accelerating regional integration necessarily requires supporting innovation, encouraging youth-led initiatives and developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
He also added that the services sector offers promising opportunities for value creation in African markets and called for better valorization of the continent’s agricultural and industrial resources through the development of processing industries.
Such a strategy, he said, would help strengthen intra-African trade while promoting more sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
He concluded that the real challenge lies in building strong African economic partnerships capable of leveraging available human resources and creativity and in turning the AfCFTA into a concrete platform for economic integration and shared development among African countries.
