Access Bank Hosts Inaugural Africa Trade Conference, Champions Intra-African Trade and Economic Growth

Cape Town, South Africa – Access Bank Plc successfully hosted the first-ever Africa Trade Conference, bringing together key industry leaders, policymakers, and trade experts to address challenges and opportunities for accelerating intra-African trade.

The conference focused on major trade barriers, including limited access to capital, market information gaps, trust deficits between trading partners, and the need for modernized trade infrastructure.

Collaboration Key to Africa’s Economic Growth

Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank, set the tone with his opening remarks, stressing the need for financial sector collaboration to facilitate seamless trade and capital access for African businesses.

"We must invest in initiatives that bring businesses together, forge trust, and strengthen African trade. ‘Made in Africa’ should be a source of pride and economic strength, not an afterthought. We must buy Africa, wear Africa, and invest in Africa to secure our future,” Ogbonna stated.

AfCFTA: A Game-Changer for Africa’s Trade Future

With Africa’s population expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is seen as a transformative force that could reshape the continent’s economic landscape.

H.E. Wamkele K. Mene, Secretary-General of AfCFTA, highlighted the urgency of fully implementing the agreement, stating:

“AfCFTA is more than a trade agreement—it’s a tool for Africa’s industrialization and economic sovereignty. For it to succeed, we must ensure businesses, particularly SMEs and women-led enterprises, have access to capital, market information, and platforms to grow.”

Financing and Digital Solutions for Intra-African Trade

Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President at Afreximbank, reinforced the importance of trade finance in Africa’s economic development, citing Afreximbank’s Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) as a game-changer for cross-border transactions.

"Without adequate financing, businesses cannot scale, industries cannot innovate, and Africa cannot reach its full trade potential," Awani emphasized.

Global financial leaders, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Deutsche Bank, Traydstream, and Fiducia International, shared insights on how digital transformation, infrastructure investment, and policy harmonization can enhance trade efficiency.

Recognizing Excellence in African Trade

The conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing organizations that have significantly contributed to intra-African trade and economic transformation.

Key Award Recipients:

Champion of Intra-African Trade Award: Afreximbank
Climate Finance Leadership Award: International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Economic Transformation & Infrastructure Finance Awards: African Development Bank (AfDB) & Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
African Icon Award: IHS Group, Dangote Industries Limited, and MTN Group Limited
SME & Women-Led Enterprise Impact Awards: Tradepass Commodities (Ghana), Chemaf International (DR Congo), and Harvest Group (Zambia)

Access Bank’s Commitment to Trade Finance

As the event concluded, Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director of African Subsidiaries at Access Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting regional integration, trade finance, and policies that create an enabling environment for African businesses.

The success of the inaugural Africa Trade Conference signals a stronger push towards realizing Africa’s economic potential through trade collaboration, financing solutions, and digital innovation.

Access Bank Hosts Inaugural Africa Trade Conference, Champions Intra-African Trade and Economic Growth