In the margin from the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Trade Center international (ITC) have signed. This expanded agreement places the Free Trade Area continental Africa (AfCFTA) at the heart of their priorities.

mso-fareast-language:en">The agreement between Afreximbank and ITC was signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah, and the Executive Director of ITC, Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton. It aims to give a decisive boost to the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) African countries and to create favorable conditions for the realization of the AfCFA. This protocol is a strategic instrument and provides for the capacity building for SMEs to exploit the opportunities offered by the African single market, facilitating access to finance and support to creative industries as vectors of inclusive growth.

mso-fareast-language:en">According to the chairman of the board of directors of Afreximbank, Benedict Oramah, “the signature of the memorandum of understanding renewed on the sidelines of IATF2025 clearly demonstrates the Afreximbank's leadership in promotion of intra-African trade and the empowerment of SMEs”. For him, this partnership positions Afreximbank and the ITC as “joint leaders” to ensure that SMEs and African creative entrepreneurs are taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.

“Thanks to our expanded partnership, we will continue to work together to make trading easier, more accessible and less expensive across the continent, for all businesses African countries, including smaller ones and those run by women and young people” said Ms. Coke-Hamilton.