Trade is an important pathway to Africa's export led industrialisation. The World Bank predicts that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will boost Africa’s income by US$450 billion by 2035 and increase intra-Africa exports by over 81 percent. However, current estimates of African trade flows tend to miss the contribution of informal traders in border regions and small enterprises run primarily by women and youth. We also know that between 50 and 60 percent of total intra-African trade is carried out by unregistered traders or firms.
