Afreximbank launches targeted training to equip African businesses for AfCFTA growth - Trade Treasury Payments

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Afreximbank launches targeted training to equip African businesses for AfCFTA growth

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the launch of a specialised training programme aimed at enabling African businesses to capitalise on opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The initiative, scheduled to run in Abuja, Nigeria, from 30 June to 2 July 2025, is designed to help businesses interpret key treaty instruments and strengthen their operational readiness for a liberalised African market.

Developed in partnership with the American University in Cairo (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the training will engage African corporates active in import and export, Trade Support Institutions, Investment Promotion Agencies, Export Trading Companies, financial institutions, and the broader international trade community.

Participants will also be introduced to Afreximbank-supported platforms such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), and tailored trade finance solutions designed to facilitate intra-African commerce.

Dr Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist and Managing Director of Research at Afreximbank, said, “The AfCFTA is not just a policy framework—it is a catalyst for a structural shift in Africa’s economic landscape. However, many African businesses are still grappling with limited awareness of the agreement’s technical provisions, trade protocols, and strategic benefits. This knowledge deficit has constrained their ability to compete effectively, expand their market reach, and optimise value chains across the continent.”

The training is intended to move beyond compliance to focus on strategic empowerment and, therefore, equip participants to develop export strategies, diversify markets, and build competitive advantage across the continent.

Tsotetsi Makong, Director of Coordination and Programmes at the AfCFTA Secretariat, said, “This training program will help African businesses seeking export opportunities overcome key challenges, including understanding African markets in depth, navigating market rules and compliance requirements, and optimising cross-border product transportation. To fully harness the AfCFTA’s potential, it is essential to address these barriers and build the capacity of African companies to transition from local production for domestic consumption to a model that supports exports across the continent and beyond.”

The upcoming training will also mark one of the first major events hosted at Afreximbank’s new African Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja. Designed as a hub for trade facilitation and business networking, the AATC offers state-of-the-art conference facilities and support services tailored to African trade stakeholders.

Afreximbank, a key partner to the African Union in AfCFTA implementation, continues to expand its portfolio of trade support initiatives, including the recently established US$10 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund.

At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies exceeded $40.1 billion, supported by investment-grade credit ratings from agencies including Moody’s (Baa1) and Fitch (BBB). 

Through initiatives like the AfCFTA training programme, the Bank continues to play a central role in advancing Africa’s economic integration and trade competitiveness.