Full and effective implementation of these agreements, coupled with investments in hard infrastructure, such as roads, energy and the physical networks required to support trade, and soft infrastructure, including institutions to facilitate and govern trade, may be prerequisites for the parties to reap the potential trade and development gains. Because of the ongoing negotiations, complex technical issues and political economy dynamics in individual African countries, this indicative milestone is extremely ambitious and far from certain. Effective implementation of the CFTA could increase intra-African trade by as much as US$35 billion per year by 2022,15 especially if complemented by proper operationalisation ofthe African Union's Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade. Even without the CFTA, there are enormous untapped opportunities for growing intra-African trade, especially in food products, basic manufactures and services.