Afreximbank’s ATDC launches national trade platforms in Zimbabwe, Malawi
The new trade and distribution platforms are expected to significantly drive regional trade
CAIRO, July 31, 2026 — Africa Trade and Distribution Company Limited [ ATDC ], a subsidiary of African Export-Import Bank [Afreximbank], has signed agreements to establish National ATDC Zimbabwe and National ATDC Malawi as part of its strategy to strengthen African value chains and expand intra-African trade.
National ATDC Zimbabwe will operate as a joint venture between ATDC and CBZ Agro Yield, a member of CBZ Holdings Ltd., while ATDC Malawi will be a joint venture between ATDC and Press Corporation Plc, Malawi’s apex conglomerate.
The agreements were signed in Alamein, Egypt, on the sidelines of Afreximbank’s Board Meetings. ATDC Chief Operating Officer Nikhil Poonevala signed on behalf of ATDC, while Lawrence Nyazema, Group Chief Executive Officer of CBZ Holdings, and Ronald Mangani, Group Chief Executive Officer of Press Corporation Plc, signed for their respective institutions.
The establishment of the Zimbabwe and Malawi platforms follows the incorporation of ATDC Egypt earlier this year, bringing the number of National ATDC entities to three.
In Zimbabwe, the platform will focus on commodity aggregation, export development, market intelligence, warehousing, logistics, supplier-buyer linkages, trade-related services and support for SMEs and emerging exporters.
ATDC said the Zimbabwe platform is expected to strengthen agricultural and industrial value chains, improve market access for local businesses, attract investment into productive sectors and position the country as a competitive export hub.
In Malawi, ATDC will focus on commodity trading and aggregation, warehousing, exports, strategic imports, structured trade finance, collateral management, cold-chain and logistics infrastructure, value addition and trade intelligence.
The Malawi platform is expected to strengthen the country’s commodity and manufacturing value chains, improve logistics efficiency, attract investment into trade-enabling infrastructure and create new market opportunities for local businesses.
The platforms are intended to address market fragmentation affecting small-scale producers, processors and emerging exporters by aggregating supply, improving access to market intelligence, facilitating logistics and warehousing, supporting trade finance and connecting African producers with regional and international buyers.
ATDC plans to operationalise seven national entities across Africa by the end of 2026, with further roll-out planned for 2027.
Afreximbank’s 2026 Africa Trade Report says Africa’s merchandise trade expanded by 6.1 percent to approximately US$ 1.5 trillion, while intra-African trade grew by 5.5 percent to about US$ 213.8 billion.
The report also identifies trade finance gaps, infrastructure deficits and limited value addition as continuing constraints, underscoring the need for commercially sustainable platforms to translate regional integration into practical trade flows.
The establishment of the two entities is part of ATDC’s broader mandate to accelerate Africa’s industrialisation, promote local value addition and support implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area through scalable, commercially sustainable national trading platforms.
Commenting on the agreements, Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said the partnerships would help build trade infrastructure needed to drive Africa’s transformation.
“The signing of National ATDC Zimbabwe and National ATDC Malawi represents another important milestone in Afreximbank’s strategy to build the trade infrastructure required to drive Africa’s transformation,” Awani said.
“Through these partnerships, we are creating platforms that connect African producers to markets, facilitate trade financing and promote value addition. By working with strong local partners, we are laying the foundation for increased exports, industrialisation and local economic empowerment across the continent.”
Stewart Makura, Chief Executive Officer of ATDC, said the two platforms would combine local market knowledge with ATDC’s pan-African trading network.
“ATDC is building the operating architecture for African trade. National ATDC Zimbabwe and National ATDC Malawi will allow us to combine local market knowledge with ATDC’s pan-African trading network, helping producers overcome scale, logistics and market-access constraints,” Makura said.
“These entities will be practical execution platforms for AfCFTA-aligned trade, value addition and regional value-chain development.”
Wellington Mutizwa, General Manager, CBZ Agro Yield, said the partnership would help unlock Zimbabwe’s productive potential by improving market access and logistics for producers.
“CBZ Agro Yield is pleased to partner with ATDC in establishing a platform that speaks directly to Zimbabwe’s productive potential. This partnership will help aggregate output, support producers with market access and logistics, and create stronger pathways for Zimbabwean products to reach regional and international markets,” Mutizwa said.
Ronald Mangani, Group Chief Executive Officer of Press Corporation Plc, said the partnership would combine Malawi’s commercial capacity with ATDC’s continental trading network.
“Press Corporation Plc’s partnership with ATDC brings together Malawi’s local commercial capacity and ATDC’s continental trading network. Through ATDC Malawi, we will support the aggregation, processing and movement of Malawian products into regional and global markets, while helping to build the infrastructure and services required for more competitive trade,” Mangani said.
Those in attendance included Prof. Benedict Oramah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ATDC; Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank and Board Member of ATDC; other ATDC board members; Eng. Hani Sonbol, CEO, Int. Islamic Trade Finance Corporation [ITFC], and Director of ATDC; and senior executives from Afreximbank, CBZ Agro Yield and Press Corporation Plc. Directors of Press Corporation Plc also attended the signing.
https://thecooperator.news/afreximbank-raises-us-1-5bln-in-largest-ever-bond-issuance/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
