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In a move to advance intra-African trade and investment, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has commissioned its first Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja, Nigeria–a US$120 million facility that ushers in a new era of trade infrastructure on the continent.
The commissioning ceremony, held on Friday, was reportedly attended by over 500 high-profile guests, including government officials, African ministers, business leaders, and pan-African entrepreneurs.
The event marked a major milestone in Afreximbank’s strategic efforts to build trade-supportive infrastructure across Africa and the Caribbean.
Representing Nigerian President H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume, hailed the AATC as a visionary project capable of unlocking Africa’s full economic potential.
“Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) is a landmark project that embodies our shared commitment to advancing intra-African trade, fostering economic integration, and unlocking the vast potential of our continent,” Akume stated.
“This occasion is a realisation of a bold vision for Africa’s economic future. AATC stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, resilience and forward-thinking leadership. It is more than a physical structure; it is the beginning of innovation, a hub for entrepreneurship and a catalyst for sustainable development.”
He further noted that the Abuja AATC would serve as a key platform for trade facilitation, capacity building, and investment promotion—pillars central to Africa’s transformation.
“Afreximbank’s role in shaping Africa’s trade landscape cannot be overstated,” Dr. Akume added, citing its flagship initiatives such as the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), and other trade finance programmes.
He emphasized that the Abuja AATC aligned with Nigeria’s federal government agenda, particularly in job creation, economic diversification, and regional integration.
“As we commission this remarkable edifice today, let us renew our resolve to be the stronger, more interconnected and prosperous Africa,” he said.
Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, Prof. Benedict Oramah, described the Abuja AATC as the first in a series of trade centres to be built across Africa and the Caribbean, under both bank-owned and franchised models.
“The Abuja AATC is the first of several AATCs being developed across Africa and the Caribbean. Some will be Afreximbank-owned, while others will be supported through a franchise scheme,” Oramah announced.
He said: “With these, we expect to create a sizeable network of AATCs that will act as lighthouses to guide the interconnections and flow of trade and investments within continental Africa and between Africa and Caribbean regions.”
Oramah revealed that the Abuja project was the result of a 41-month journey grounded in hope and determination. It will serve multiple purposes: hosting Afreximbank’s regional office, housing a technology and SME incubation hub, offering a Digital Africa Trade Gateway, and providing conference, exhibition, and hotel facilities.
He expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for its unwavering support over the past three decades.
“Successive governments have accorded unflinching support to Afreximbank, responding most positively to capital calls, creating a congenial environment for its smooth operations, while providing the Bank significant domestic policy support that helped to execute many development programmes in Nigeria,” Oramah said.
The Abuja centre is the first of seven planned AATCs in cities including Kampala (Uganda), Harare (Zimbabwe), Cairo (Egypt), Yaoundé (Cameroon), Tunis (Tunisia), and Kigali (Rwanda).
Afreximbank also recently broke ground in Bridgetown, Barbados—the first AATC outside Africa.
Among the dignitaries at the commissioning were Hon. William F. Duguid of Barbados, Hon. Sylvester Grisby of Liberia, Nigeria’s Ministers of Finance and Trade—Adebayo Olawale Edun and Dr. Jumoke Oduwole—as well as former Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe also sent Deputy Ministers, alongside business titans Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu.
Their attendance underscored the unity of purpose among Africa’s policymakers and private sector leaders to utilise the AATC model as a catalyst for economic transformation across the continent.
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