The prestigious African Icon Award was presented to IHS Group, Dangote Industries Limited, and MTN Group Limited for their significant contribution to Africa’s economic progress.
Access Bank PLC (www.AccessBankPLC.com) Hosts Inaugural Africa Trade Conference in Cape Town, South Africa
Access Bank PLC organized the inaugural edition of the Africa Trade Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and experts to promote solutions that will accelerate intra-African trade and unlock the continent’s full economic potential. The conference addressed pressing challenges, including limited access to capital, lack of market information, trust deficits between trade partners, and the urgent need to modernize trade infrastructure.
Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director of Access Bank PLC, delivered the keynote speech, setting the tone for discussions by identifying the major obstacles to trade in Africa. He highlighted the urgent need for collaboration within the financial sector to enable seamless access to capital and foster a business environment where African enterprises can grow and compete globally.
“We must invest in initiatives that bring businesses together, build trust, and create the necessary connections for trade. To achieve this, we must dispel the narrative that ‘Made in Africa’ is inferior to products manufactured elsewhere. We need to buy African, take pride in wearing products made on the continent, and invest in Africa, as this is what the continent needs to move to the next phase,” said Ogbonna.
With Africa’s population projected to grow from 1.2 billion to 2.5 billion by 2050, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents the most significant free trade initiative since the establishment of the World Trade Organization. By promoting economic integration, AfCFTA has the potential to reshape trade dynamics across the continent, creating a unified market that supports industrialization, stimulates employment, and enhances Africa’s global competitiveness. Recognizing this transformative opportunity, H.E. Wamkele K. Mene, Secretary-General of AfCFTA, emphasized the urgency of fully implementing the agreement to seize its vast opportunities.
“AfCFTA is not just a trade agreement; it is an instrument for Africa’s industrialization and economic sovereignty. It is a tool that will help us break down historical trade barriers and build a self-sufficient, competitive, and prosperous Africa. But to achieve this, we must commit to making the agreement fully operational, ensuring that businesses, especially SMEs and women-led enterprises, have access to the information, capital, and platforms they need to thrive,” said Mene.
Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, also highlighted the importance of financing mechanisms that support African businesses in their cross-border expansion. She reaffirmed Afreximbank’s commitment to championing trade finance solutions and infrastructure investments that will unlock Africa’s trade potential.
“At Afreximbank, we know that trade finance is the cornerstone of economic development. Without it, businesses cannot scale, industries cannot innovate, and Africa cannot realize its full trade potential. That is why we have developed instruments such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions, reduce reliance on foreign currencies, and boost intra-African trade,” Awani emphasized.
The conference featured insightful contributions from Nathalie Louat, Global Director at IFC/World Bank Group, who underscored the central role of trade finance in enabling cross-border transactions and supporting financial inclusion. She highlighted the longstanding partnership between IFC and Access Bank in fostering Africa’s economic resilience.
Several high-level panel discussions examined strategies for overcoming trade barriers and improving market access through innovative solutions. Experts from leading institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Traydstream, OWP Partners, and Fiducia International, explored how enhanced infrastructure, digital solutions, and policy harmonization could drive economic growth and intra-African trade.
Marc Auboin of the World Trade Organization (WTO) shared key insights into how digital transformation is redefining Africa’s supply chain ecosystem, generating efficiencies, and opening new opportunities in global markets. Tanya Dos Santos-Ford from GIBS Business School also led a session on sustainable trade practices, emphasizing the need for environmentally responsible economic growth strategies.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions to intra-African trade and economic transformation. Tradepass Commodities Limited (Ghana), Chemaf International FZE (DR Congo), and Harvest Group of Companies (Zambia) were honored for their impact on SMEs and women-led enterprises. Bulkstream Limited (Kenya) and Electricidade de Moçambique (Mozambique) received awards for supporting intra-African trade, while Tennant Metals South Africa Pty Ltd was recognized as an Emerging Trade Leader.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) received the Climate Finance Leadership Award, while Afreximbank was honored with the Champion of Intra-African Trade Award. The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) were awarded for their roles in economic transformation and infrastructure financing, respectively. The prestigious African Icon Award was presented to IHS Group, Dangote Industries Limited, and MTN Group Limited for their significant contribution to Africa’s economic progress.
At the close of the conference, Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director of African Subsidiaries at Access Bank, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting trade finance, promoting regional integration, and advocating for policies that create a favorable business environment across Africa.
