Africa's historical trade challenge has been characterized by a lack of infrastructure, but a new narrative is emerging focusing on financing and the critical players enabling the continent's cargo flow amidst a trade boom.

• The piece highlights the crucial role of financing in overcoming Africa's trade bottlenecks, moving beyond the traditional focus on physical infrastructure.
• Key players in facilitating Africa's cargo flow are identified as central to unlocking the continent's trade potential.
• The article suggests that a missing link in previously understood trade challenges was the adequate provision of financial solutions to support import, export, and overall logistics operations.