SME Competitiveness in Francophone Africa 2024: Strengthening business ecosystems for exports

Only 14% of francophone African companies export internationally. However, more than half of non-exporting firms, particularly women-led businesses, are eager to enter global markets. Financial constraints are holding them back.
 

Strengthening business ecosystems is essential to overcome barriers and enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter internal markets. The business survey, conducted by the International Trade Centre with the Permanent Conference of African and Francophone Consular Chambers, explores how ecosystem factors – such as infrastructure, logistics and financial systems – shape SME performance and export readiness.
 

This report is the seventh in an annual series available at www.intracen.org/publications.