NAIROBI, October 5, 2026 — The African Export-Import Bank [Afreximbank] and the East African Business Council [ EABC ] have signed an Africa Trade Gateway [ATG] Agency Agreement to connect East African businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs] and major exporters, to the 300-million-strong EAC Common Market and the wider African Continental Free Trade Area [AfCFTA] market of 1.3 billion consumers through digital trade.
The agreement was signed recently during the inaugural East Africa CEO & Investment Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the two organisations.
EABC has been actively promoting the digital ecosystem among its members and supporting their onboarding. The partnership combines EABC’s regional business network with ATG’s digital trade services to help businesses identify verified buyers and suppliers across Africa and beyond, access information on trading partners, and connect with finance and payment solutions.
The partnership, which has significance for East Africa and the continent as a whole, enables EABC to join a growing network of trade-supporting institutions across Africa working to connect businesses with opportunities beyond their regional markets.
Strengthening these connections will help more businesses expand across borders and capitalise on opportunities created by the AfCFTA.
Mr Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice-President of the Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank, said the partnership would help businesses overcome some of the challenges associated with cross-border trade.
“Trade is built on connections, but for many businesses, identifying trusted partners and accessing the right services to trade across borders can be a significant challenge.
“The Africa Trade Gateway is designed to bridge that gap by connecting businesses with trusted buyers, suppliers, financial institutions and the services they need to turn opportunities into real transactions.
“Our collaboration with EABC is helping more businesses within East Africa access new markets with greater confidence. By leveraging the trusted networks and digital services available through the Africa Trade Gateway, businesses can build meaningful connections, unlock new opportunities and participate more actively in Africa’s growing digital economy.
“As more businesses successfully connect and trade, the network becomes stronger, creating a virtuous cycle of opportunity and growth across the continent.”
Ahmed Farah, CEO of EABC, said the organisation was equipping East African enterprises with knowledge and support to take advantage of opportunities presented by the AfCFTA.
“EABC is empowering East African enterprises with knowledge on AfCFTA market opportunities, Rules of Origin, tariff concessions, customs procedures and export requirements, complemented by tailored advisory support on market entry and export readiness.
“As a trade corridor partner for the Afreximbank Africa Trade Gateway, EABC is connecting enterprises to the ecosystem, enabling access to business-to-business matchmaking and trade finance solutions that can facilitate intra-African trade under the AfCFTA.”
Africa Trade Gateway is Afreximbank’s flagship digital trade ecosystem, connecting businesses, financial institutions and trade partners across Africa and beyond.
Through a single integrated platform, ATG links businesses to trusted counterparties and trade-enabling services, including trade finance, payments, compliance, logistics and market intelligence, to facilitate cross-border transactions.
Launched in June 2023, ATG now operates in more than 45 African countries, connecting 45 trade-supporting institutions, 110 commercial banks and 25,000 verified companies.
The platform has an opportunity pipeline worth US$ 4.5 billion across commodities, minerals, oil and gas, fast-moving consumer goods [FMCG] and other African-made products.
By consolidating the services required for trade, ATG aims to help businesses trade with greater confidence, efficiency and scale.
https://thecooperator.news/afreximbank-backs-kenyas-landmark-us16bln-lamu-refinery/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
-
-
-
-
