The second day of the two-day international conference hosted by the Ghana Export-Import (GEXIM) Bank commenced on Thursday, March 26, with a high-level panel discussion focusing on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and strategies to promote export-led growth across the continent.

Panel Session 1 brought together seasoned experts, including Moses Klu Mensah, Deputy CEO of Banking at GEXIM; Joyce Letswalo, Head of Market Access at the AfCFTA Secretariat; Mark Badu Aboagye, CEO of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industry; and Mohammed Awami, Head of Specialized Business at Nigeria EXIM Bank. The session was moderated by Selorm Adonoo.

During the discussion, panellists shared insights from their respective organisations, highlighting practical approaches to leveraging AfCFTA for market expansion, improving trade facilitation, and boosting competitiveness of African exports.

Participants emphasised the critical role of collaboration between financial institutions, government agencies, and private sector actors in addressing challenges such as logistical bottlenecks, regulatory barriers, and access to finance for exporters.

The session underscored the opportunities AfCFTA presents for Ghanaian and African businesses, encouraging the development of integrated strategies to fully harness the free trade area’s potential for sustainable economic growth.

The conference forms part of the bank's 10-year anniversary celebrations. At the opening of the conference in Accra on Wednesday, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang applauded the bank for its role in the country's industrialisation efforts and pledged the government’s support to ensure that policies are effectively implemented.

She urged experts to share valuable insights that would inform decision-making in the country’s pursuit of trade freedom and other economic benefits within Ghana’s import and export sector.