Continental Trade and Transport Conference 2026

16 October 2026
Conferences

About the conference

C-BRTA Trade and Transport Conference 2026

Theme: Driving Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Africa through Integrated Green Transport, Trade Facilitation and the AfCFTA Priorities

Why the Conference?

The Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) will host the Transport and Trade Conference on 16–17 November 2026. The conference will bring together key national, regional, and continental stakeholders involved in the transport, trade, and logistics sectors to deliberate on the critical trade, transport, and environmental challenges that continue to impede cross-border transport and trade flows across Africa. These challenges have the potential to constrain the realisation of the objectives and aspirations of the AfCFTA.

Particular attention will be given to strategic transport and trade facilitation projects and programmes adopted at continental and regional levels to address these constraints, with a specific focus on their implementation status, challenges, and opportunities for acceleration.

The conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to assess progress, identify implementation bottlenecks, and explore practical interventions required to advance priority initiatives.

Conference Structure

Guided by the conference theme, “Driving Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Africa through Integrated Green Transport, Trade Facilitation and the AfCFTA Priorities,” the C-BRTA Trade and Transport Conference 2026 will provide a strategic platform for policymakers, industry leaders, development partners and academia to explore practical solutions for advancing green transport and trade facilitation across the African continent.

Deliberations will focus on accelerating transport decarbonisation through the adoption of low-carbon transport technologies, cleaner fuels, SMART and digitally enabled transport corridors, harmonised transit systems, efficient border management and sustainable freight solutions.

Recognising that the transition to green transport requires significant investment, the conference will also focus on blended financial models and the role of the private sector in mobilising capital for zero-emission vehicles, enabling infrastructure and other decarbonisation initiatives to strengthen regional connectivity and trade competitiveness under the AfCFTA.

Key Discussion Points

The following discussion points will anchor deliberations during the two-day conference in November 2026:

  • Digitisation of transport corridors to support trade competitiveness under the AfCFTA;
  • Balancing vehicle affordability with vehicle emission standards to support a equitable transition to clean transport across Africa;
  • Showcasing best practices and lessons learned in SMART corridor development to strengthen regional connectivity and trade facilitation;
  • Advancing the harmonisation of transit regimes and regulatory regimes to facilitate seamless regional trade;
  • Road freight liberalisation to enhance market access and the efficient movement of goods across African countries;
  • Strengthening insurance and risk instruments as enablers of trade facilitation;
  • Assessing the implications of a modal shift on the competitiveness of African road freight businesses;
  • Re-imagining border posts as strategic nodes towards AfCFTA implementation;
  • Mobilising blended financial instruments to accelerate transport decarbonisation; and
  • Reducing the carbon footprint of the fuel supply chain through cleaner fuels and renewable energy.

Who Will Be Attending?

The conference will bring together diverse role-players operating in the transport, trade and logistics sectors, including representatives from the African Union Commission (AUC), NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), regional secretariats, Ministries of Transport, Trade, Environment and Energy, road transport regulators, the AfCFTA Secretariat, corridor management institutions, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), academia and research institutions, regional and national transport associations, freight forwarding and clearing agent associations, logistics service providers, road freight operators and the private sector.

What Are the Take-aways?

The hosting of the C-BRTA Trade and Transport Conference presents a strategic opportunity for the C-BRTA to advance the continental decarbonisation agenda. Examples of expected benefits include:

Green Transport and Sustainability

  • Promoting the uptake of innovative technologies and digital solutions to enhance transport system performance in line with environmental sustainability objectives; and
  • Contributing to the development of safer, greener, and more resilient transport systems aligned with Africa’s climate commitments and the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Trade Facilitation

  • Facilitating intra-Africa trade through improving coordination, alignment, and implementation of strategic transport reforms under the AfCFTA framework.

Policy, Legal and Regulatory Harmonisation

  • Strengthening Continental and Regional partnerships with public and private sector role-players to improve regulatory certainty and enhance policy coherence; and
  • Supporting the implementation of continental, regional, and national legal and regulatory instruments that advance the objectives of the AfCFTA.