AfCFTA Association of Commodity Exchanges (ACX) annual conference kicks off in Victoria

THE African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Association of Commodity Exchanges (ACX) annual conference kicks off in Victoria Falls this morning with focus on advancing Africa’s agricultural and trade agenda.

Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, is expected to be the guest speaker at the opening of this two-day AfCFTA-AFX annual conference.

The event brings together key industry players from across the continent.

“The Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX) is honoured to announce that the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr. Anxious Masuka, will be the esteemed guest speaker at the conference.

“His presence underscores the importance of the event in advancing Africa’s agricultural and trade agenda, as well as Zimbabwe’s commitment to fostering economic growth through commodity exchange platforms,” said ZMX in a statement.

Key figures to grace the occasion include AfCFTA head of Secretariat, Ms Joyce Letswalo, Ghana Commodity Exchange CEO Mr Tucci Ivowi, global expert in commodity trade and finance, Mr Adam Gross, Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) CEO, Mr Tafadzwa Chinamo, Johannesburg Securities Exchange head of commodities in the capital markets division Mr Anelisa Matutu, commodities and derivatives markets expert Dr Bharat Kulkarni and ZMX CEO Mr Collen Tapfumaneyi.

Deliberations will be around the AfCFTA and commodity markets policy pathways for trade expansion and economic growth, technology and innovative market mechanisms for a resilient African economy, exploring new financial instruments, trade financing models, and risk management tools to enhance liquidity and participation in African commodity exchanges

Presentations will also be on unlocking investment in Africa’s commodity markets and the role of development agencies and trade platforms, scaling Intra African Trade, leveraging commodity exchanges for economic resilience and growth, as well as cross-border trade agreements.

The theme for the conference is: “Scaling Intra-African Trade: Leveraging Commodity Exchanges for Economic Resilience and Growth.”

It highlights the role of commodity exchanges in strengthening regional trade and advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), said ZMX.

“Delegates from all over the continent have already registered to attend, reflecting the growing interest in the discussions surrounding trade harmonisation, investment opportunities, supply chain development, and policy frameworks to unlock Africa’s trade potential.

“The conference will serve as a vital platform for networking, business linkages, and strategic collaborations among policymakers, financial and logistics experts, and international organizations,” said ZMX.

This is an opportunity for Zimbabwe to showcase its contributions to Africa’s commodity markets, emphasising its innovative market structures and strategic policies aimed at enhancing agricultural and resource-based trade.

The conference is expected to further position Zimbabwe as a key player in intra-African commerce and attract investments to its crucial economic sectors.-chrncile