Access Bank’s Africa Trade Conference Ignites a New Era of Intra-African Commerce

Cape Town, South Africa – Pioneering Solutions for Africa’s Trade Future

L-R: Iyabo Soji-Okusanya, Executive Director, Commercial and Investment Banking Division, Access Bank PLC; Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank); Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank PLC; Nathalie Louat, Global Director, IFC/World Bank Group, and Dr. Marc Auboin, Counsellor, Economic Research and Statistics, World Trade Organization (WTO), at the inaugural Africa Trade Conference organised by Access Bank in Cape Town, South Africa…yesterday

.Access Bank PLC has set a new benchmark in Africa’s economic transformation with the successful hosting of its inaugural Africa Trade Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The groundbreaking event convened industry leaders, policymakers, and trade experts to address persistent challenges hampering intra-African commerce, such as limited capital access, trust deficits, infrastructure gaps, and market information asymmetry.

Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank, opened the conference with a compelling call for financial collaboration to break trade barriers. He urged African enterprises to embrace their collective power to shape a self-sustaining economic ecosystem.

“We must invest in initiatives that unite businesses, foster trust, and create seamless connections across Africa. The narrative that ‘Made in Africa’ is inferior must end. We must buy Africa, wear Africa, and invest in Africa to propel the continent into its next growth phase,” Ogbonna stated.

With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has the potential to revolutionize commerce on a historic scale. H.E. Wamkele K. Mene, Secretary-General of AfCFTA, reinforced this vision, emphasizing the urgent need to fully operationalize the agreement.

“AfCFTA is more than a trade agreement; it is Africa’s blueprint for industrialization and economic sovereignty. By eliminating historic trade barriers, we will create an Africa that is self-sufficient, competitive, and prosperous,” Mene declared.

Financing Africa’s Trade Revolution

Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, stressed the role of trade finance in scaling African businesses and unlocking the continent’s economic potential. She highlighted the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) as a game-changer in reducing reliance on foreign currencies.

“Trade finance is the heartbeat of Africa’s economic development. Without it, industries cannot innovate, and businesses cannot scale. That is why Afreximbank is championing financing solutions that remove bottlenecks for African entrepreneurs,” Awani noted.

Echoing this sentiment, Nathalie Louat, Global Director at the IFC/World Bank Group, emphasized the critical role of trade finance in supporting cross-border transactions and financial inclusion.

Strategic Insights: Trade Barriers, Digital Transformation & Sustainable Growth

High-level panels featuring industry heavyweights—including Deutsche Bank, Traydstream, OWP Partners, and Fiducia International—deliberated on infrastructure modernization, digital trade solutions, and policy harmonization to accelerate intra-African trade.

• Dr. Marc Auboin of the WTO examined how digital transformation is reshaping Africa’s supply chains, boosting efficiency, and unlocking new global markets.
• Tanya Dos Santos-Ford of GIBS Business School led a discussion on sustainable trade practices, underscoring the importance of environmentally responsible growth strategies.

Celebrating Excellence: Awards & Industry Recognition

The conference concluded with a prestigious awards ceremony honoring organizations that have significantly advanced intra-African trade:

Trade & SME Impact: Tradepass Commodities (Ghana), Chemaf International (DR Congo), Harvest Group (Zambia)
Intra-African Trade Advancement: Bulkstream Limited (Kenya), Electricidade de Moçambique (Mozambique)
Emerging Leader in Trade: Tennant Metals South Africa Pty Ltd
Climate Finance Leadership: International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Champion of Intra-African Trade: Afreximbank
Economic Transformation & Infrastructure Finance: AfDB & Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
African Icon Award: IHS Group, Dangote Industries, MTN Group

A Future Anchored in Trade & Integration

Closing the conference, Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director, African Subsidiaries at Access Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s unwavering commitment to:
✔ Driving trade finance solutions
✔ Fostering regional economic integration
✔ Championing policies that create an enabling business environment

“This is just the beginning. Access Bank will continue to empower businesses across Africa, ensuring that trade becomes the engine of our continent’s economic prosperity,” Kumapayi concluded.

The Access Bank Africa Trade Conference has not only set the stage for deeper intra-African collaboration but has ignited a movement towards a future where African businesses trade seamlessly, thrive globally, and drive unprecedented economic growth.