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The rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area in letter and spirit is awaited by the border population since they feel that the neighbouring countries will offer them mind-boggling business opportunities
The rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area in letter and spirit is awaited by the border population since they feel that the neighbouring countries will offer them mind-boggling business opportunities. For instance, the residents of Cabinda, situated in the north of Angola, find the Congolese city of Ponta Negeir biggest business center. However, they complain about the peak customs tariffs at the Massabi border, preventing them from trading at the border post.
Buyers from neighbouring countries flock to the border to buy an assortment of goods at the border posts and sell their produces to the host country. From bananas to car spare parts are sold at these points. Yet, Cabinda is not yet in a free trade zone, although the territory’s characteristics have led the government to create more favourable conditions for trade with the Republic of Congo, which borders the country at several points.
But what is happening on the ground is not facilitating trade and commerce. In the Cabinda province, there is a tax regime that is differentiated from the rest of the country. The populations that live up to 10 kilometers from the border limit have varying tax regimes.
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AfCFTA’s main objective is to lower the barriers to promote intra-trade. Traders are waiting for the complete removal of the customs duty to give a fillip to border trade, which helps the common man and small-time traders.
