Afreximbank to establish trade centres in Africa’s commercial capitals

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is setting up trade centres in several major commercial capitals across Africa and the Caribbean as part of its efforts to boost intra-African trade.

Dr Robert Tomusange, Director and Global Head of Real Estate and Administration for Anglophone West Africa at Afreximbank, disclosed this while briefing the media on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the trade centres, dubbed “The Afreximbank – African Trade Centres (AATCs),” were designed to promote economic diversification and bridge the gap in trade information and facilitation services across the continent.

He said with nine planned locations, the AATCs would be landmark business complexes and trade hubs housing Afreximbank’s trade capabilities in iconic settings.

“They will provide stakeholders with access to integrated trade services, critical data, and opportunities for networking and partnerships,” Tomusange explained.

He emphasised that the vision of the AATCs was to transform African trade through the creation of integrated service hubs that connect various actors in the trade ecosystem.

He said that the centres would serve as a link between buyers, sellers, suppliers, service providers, enterprises, governments, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, development organisations, and the broader 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.

“AATC offerings will include trade information and facilitation services, capacity building, business hotels, conference and exhibition centres, Grade A corporate office spaces, trade and project finance, export development, guarantees, and advisory services.”

He said the planned locations for the AATCs include Abidjan, Abuja, Barbados, Cairo, Harare, Kampala, Kigali, Tunis, and Yaoundé.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Abuja AATC is scheduled to be commissioned on Thursday, April 10, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)