A-ACX Appoints First Secretary-General and Solidifies Global Partnerships to Transform African Commodity Trading

The AfCFTA Association of Commodities Exchanges (A-ACX) has reached a significant milestone in its mission to integrate the continent's markets with the appointment of Setutsi "Tucci" Ivowi as its first Secretary-General. Confirmed during a recent General Meeting, Ivowi’s leadership is expected to be a catalyst for the Association’s strategic vision of fostering a more structured and inclusive trading environment across Africa. Operating under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the A-ACX is positioning itself as a cornerstone for economic development by streamlining how commodities are traded and valued across borders.

The General Meeting was chaired by Collen Tapfumaneyi, the CEO of the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange, who has been instrumental in steering the association’s recent growth. Currently, the A-ACX boasts a membership of 18 commodity exchanges from various African nations, reflecting a growing regional commitment to harmonized market standards. By consolidating these exchanges under a single umbrella, the association aims to eliminate trade barriers and promote price transparency, ensuring that African producers and traders benefit from fair market values and reduced transaction costs.

Beyond internal restructuring, the A-ACX is aggressively pursuing international collaboration to strengthen Africa's derivatives and commodity markets. A key development in this regard is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Futures Markets (AFM). This partnership is designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and technical cooperation, bringing global best practices to the African continent. Such alliances are critical for building the sophisticated infrastructure required to manage risks and attract investment into the region's agricultural and mineral sectors.

As the A-ACX enters this new chapter, its efforts are set to play a transformative role in enhancing Africa’s economic resilience and sustainable growth. By promoting intra-African trade and creating a unified marketplace, the association is not only supporting the broader goals of the AfCFTA but also empowering the continent to take a more dominant role in global commodity supply chains. The successful integration of these 18 member exchanges represents a bold step toward a more prosperous and self-reliant African economy.