Africa's freetrade pact will help shift the continent away from its overreliance on volatile commodity exports and boost manufacturing, according to the African Development Bank. 

Sectors where African products already have a competitive advantage have the most to gain from the deal that joins the markets of more than 50 countries, making it the largest freetrade zone in the world, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said in an interview in Niger's capital, Niamey. This was after Benin and Nigeria signed the African Continental FreeTrade Agreement on the weekend, paving the way for trade with reduced tariffs to start next July. 

Adesina said. 

Commodity exports dominate even in Africa's two biggest economies, with mining production accounting for about half of South Africa's shipments while crude oil generates 90% of Nigeria's foreign income.

 

 
The mechanics of the deal now has to be negotiated. A digital system for payments converging one country's currency to another member state's is the most important mechanism to have in place before trading starts, Adesina said. That's where the Economic Community of West African States' plan to adopt a common trade currency will also help because it could reduce foreign exchange risks, he said. 

Access to the continental market and an increased focus on industrialization are likely to benefit countries with access to ports, railways and airports the most, Adesina said. The continent's infrastructure funding needs are at $130 billion to 170 billion a year, with a financing gap in the range of $68 billion to $108 billion, according to AfDB estimates. 

Adesina said. 

The AfDB will provide $4.8 million for member states to set up the trade zone's headquarters in Ghana and has asked its board for a general capital increase to invest in infrastructure and support the freetrade area.

Read the original article on Al Jazeera.