Launched in January 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a historic step toward creating a unified market for goods, services, and people across the continent, in line with the Agenda 2063 vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.

With the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Cabo Verde could leverage its potential in key sectors such as fisheries, tourism, digital economy, and renewable energy to integrate more effectively into regional value chains. While the private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), plays a vital role for the economy, SMEs in Cabo Verde face significant challenges in realizing AfCFTA benefits and participate in regional value chains.

In this context, the UN Trade and Development and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in collaboration with Cabo Verde's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy, and the Ministry of Finance and Business Development will host a joint workshop to validate its National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and to discuss challenges and opportunities for SMEs. More specifically the workshop aims to:

• Inform national stakeholders about the foundations, scope, and implications of the AfCFTA for Cabo Verde.
• Validate the AfCFTA Implementation Strategy, incorporating feedback and contributions from national stakeholders.
• Discuss and validate UNCTAD’s study on opportunities and challenges for SMEs participation in regional value chains in the context of the AfCFTA.
• Explore policy initiatives and incentives that facilitate SMEs’ access to market information, technology, and resources to better equip them for regional trade and industrial growth under the AfCFTA.