The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has officially launched its inaugural African Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja, Nigeria. Described as a landmark initiative, the AATC symbolizes a shared dedication to unlocking Africa’s vast economic potential by promoting trade, facilitating investment, and building capacity across the continent.
“This Centre will be instrumental in driving trade facilitation, capacity development, and investment promotion key foundations of Africa’s economic transformation,” said Dr. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria.
According to Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Afreximbank’s Board of Directors, the Abuja AATC is the first in a network of similar centres planned across Africa and the Caribbean. Some will be directly owned by Afreximbank, while others will operate under a franchise or licensing model.
“These centres will serve as beacons, guiding trade and investment flows within Africa and between Africa and the Caribbean,” Prof. Oramah stated.
Abuja centre
The Abuja centre took 41 months to complete and is designed to serve multiple functions. It will act as a regional hub for integration, house Afreximbank’s permanent regional office, and provide a range of services including: a technology and SME incubation hub, the Digital Africa Trade Gateway, conference and exhibition spaces, a business-class hotel.
The facility features two interconnected nine-storey towers. One tower includes premium office spaces, a trade and exhibition centre, conference halls, a technology incubator, SME support facilities, and trade information services. The second tower houses a 148-room hotel with seminar rooms, meeting spaces, a wellness centre, dining options, and additional amenities.
Afreximbank plans to establish additional AATCs in: Kampala (Uganda), Harare (Zimbabwe), Cairo (Egypt), Yaoundé (Cameroon), Tunis (Tunisia) and Kigali (Rwanda). Construction has also begun in Bridgetown, Barbados, marking the first AATC outside the African continent. Through collaborative arrangements, the Bank will work with development institutions, chambers of commerce, governments, and private entities to extend the AATC model globally. These centres aim to link various players in the trade ecosystem buyers, sellers, service providers, and financial institutions into a cohesive network that accelerates Africa’s integration with itself and with the wider world.