Afreximbank and ITC Renew Partnership to Boost Intra-African Trade
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have renewed and expanded their memorandum of understanding (MoU), reinforcing their commitment to strengthening intra-African trade, empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and advancing South-South cooperation.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) by Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, Prof. Benedict Oramah, and ITC Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton.
Under the renewed framework, the two institutions will collaborate on enhancing SME competitiveness, capacity building in relation to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), supporting creative industries, strengthening Africa’s trade links with the Caribbean and Arab regions, and expanding access to finance for businesses, particularly SMEs.
Prof. Oramah said the agreement would help broaden Africa’s creative economy, deepen South-South ties, and ensure the private sector benefits from AfCFTA. “By choosing IATF2025 as the platform for this announcement, Afreximbank and ITC are underlining the important role of the IATF as a platform for unlocking the potential of SMEs to drive Africa’s trade-led development,” he said.
Ms. Coke-Hamilton stressed the importance of lowering barriers to trade across the continent. “Our long-term partnership with Afreximbank is one built on strengthening the way Africa engages with the rest of the world in terms of trade. With our expanded partnership, we will continue to work together to make trade easier, more accessible and less costly across the continent, for all African businesses, including the smallest and those led by women and youth,” she said.
IATF2025, held from 4–10 September, attracted over 112,000 visitors from 132 countries and recorded US$48.3 billion in trade and investment deals. More than 2,100 exhibitors showcased opportunities, reaffirming the fair’s role as a catalyst for continental integration and global partnerships.
For further details, visit: www.IntraAfricanTradeFair.com.
