The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) should bring bountiful opportunities to local companies - but how can we connect these SMEs to financing? Given the tight criteria that international banks stick to, this session considers:

• How can the trade finance community help to connect African and women owned SMEs to working capital finance? 

• What role do local banks have to play? 

• What role can DFIs play in supporting women and African owned SMEs?