The first batch of South African products has been shipped on Wednesday under the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the launching ceremony in Durban.
"From this quayside, and from ports, airports and border posts across the continent, a new era of growth and prosperity is being born," Ramaphosa said. "A great future awaits our continent and its people."
The country became the first member of the Southern African Customs Union to effectively implement the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
The area was established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which aims to increase socio-economic development, reduce poverty, and make Africa more competitive in the global economy.
The area was officially launched on January 1, 2021, making it the largest free trade area by number of member states after the World Trade Organization.