What Kenya should do to reap dividends from AfCFTA pact

Cargo containers before being loaded into the ship at Mombasa Port on October 4, 2022. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

As far back as the 8th century, seasonal Monsoon winds facilitated rich economic and cultural exchanges between the Asian, Arabian and East African economies. Merchants relied on the famous Kusi and Kaskazi winds to forge new trading relationships, ultimately determining the development of the East Africa's economy.

Today, as the October-December monsoons trigger the annual short rains season, the region is set to benefit from new 'trade winds' that will define our economic progress for years to come. According to the Future of Trade report recently launched by Standard Chartered, Africa's total trade exports are expected to close at a trillion dollars in value by 2035.