President Cyril Ramaphosa will officiate the launch of South Africa's first shipment and preferential trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement on January 31.

The successful implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement is expected to lead to diversification of exports, increased productive capacity, acceleration of growth, increased investment, increased employment opportunities and incomes, and most importantly, broadened economic inclusion both in South Africa and the rest of the continent.

It provides South African exporters with new market access opportunities to key markets on the African continent and can unlock growth, the President's office said.

South Africa is the first among the four Southern African Customs Union countries to practically realise the AfCFTA Agreement.

Ramaphosa will be joined by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, AfCFTA secretary-general Wamkele Mene and other dignitaries, including the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, in witnessing the first shipment of Proudly South Africa products exported to the continent.

The launch ceremony will take place at the Port of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, and takes place on the margins of the thirteenth AfCFTA Council of Ministers, which will be held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from January 30 to 31.

Further, the thirty-seventh African Union Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government will, at its annual convention in February, take stock of the progress made thus far in the implementation of the AfCFTA, the Presidency said.