The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Cairo this year was less about exhibition halls and more about integration in action. From sovereign booths to startup showcases, the Fair embodied the AfCFTA promise: that Africa’s markets are strongest when connected.

What impressed me most was the creative financing solutions presented. Afreximbank continues to innovate, from factoring solutions for SMEs to cross-border digital payments. These tools may not grab headlines, but they unlock real barriers that keep African businesses from scaling regionally.

Logistics, however, remain a challenge. Without investment in ports, roads, and rail, the AfCFTA risks stalling. I left Cairo convinced that infrastructure and trade finance must advance hand in hand.

At Crane Philip, we see our role as ensuring that deals struck on the exhibition floor do not die there. It is about creating continuity between opportunity and execution, helping governments, financiers, and businesses move from handshake to transaction.