Afreximbank establishes trade centres across Africa to boost Intra-African trade

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is embarking on a significant initiative to bolster trade within Africa and between Africa and the Caribbean by establishing trade centres in several major commercial capitals.

Dr. Robert Tomusange, Director and Global Head of Real Estate and Administration for Anglophone West Africa at Afreximbank, announced this development during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

He explained that these trade centres, branded as “The Afreximbank – African Trade Centres (AATCs),” are strategically designed to foster economic diversification and address existing gaps in trade information and facilitation services throughout the continent.

According to Dr. Tomusange, the AATCs, planned for nine key locations, will be prominent business complexes and trade hubs that consolidate Afreximbank’s trade capabilities within iconic settings.  

He underscored that the overarching vision for the AATCs is to revolutionize African trade by establishing integrated service hubs that effectively connect various stakeholders within the trade ecosystem.

Dr. Tomusange stated that these centres will act as crucial links between a diverse range of participants, including buyers, sellers, suppliers, service providers, enterprises, governments, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, development organizations, and the wider African and global trade and investment community.

“AATCs aim to bring together the trade ecosystem to create a powerful network that can be leveraged to explore local, regional, and global market opportunities,” he emphasized.

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He further detailed the comprehensive offerings of the AATCs, which will include trade information and facilitation services, capacity building programs, business hotels, conference and exhibition centres, Grade A corporate office spaces, trade and project finance solutions, export development support, guarantees, and advisory services.  

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Abuja AATC is scheduled for commissioning today, Thursday, April 10, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu. 

CREDITS : NAN