Lesotho MSMEs equipped to turn AfCFTA market opportunities into sustainable trade

Maseru, Lesotho, 28 September 2026 - The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development has called on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to strengthen their capacity and export readiness to take advantage of opportunities presented by regional trade agreements and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Officially opening the Workshop on Enhancing the Capacities of Lesotho MSMEs to Leverage Regional Trade Agreements and the AfCFTA in Maseru, Principal Secretary Mrs Palesa Matobako emphasised that access to markets alone does not guarantee success. She said Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) must be equipped to identify viable market opportunities, understand consumer demand, meet standards and certification requirements, comply with tariffs and rules of origin, and establish connections with potential buyers. “The African market is opening up, but opportunity rewards those who are prepared,” Mrs Matobako said. The three-day workshop, organised with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Lesotho), the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) and other partne...