ALGIERS, Algeria, September 25, 2025 – The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have renewed and expanded their cooperation through a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), reinforcing their shared commitment to strengthening intra-African trade, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and promoting South-South collaboration.
The signing of the MoU, which took place on the sidelines of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025), was led by Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, and Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of ITC.
This renewal marks a strategic step in amplifying the role of SMEs and the creative industries in driving Africa’s trade-led growth.
Strengthening Africa’s Trade Foundations
The renewed Afreximbank ITC partnership focuses on boosting SME competitiveness, enhancing capacity for African businesses under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and improving access to finance. It also prioritizes sustainable livelihoods through the creative industries and deepening trade ties with the Caribbean and Arab regions.
Commenting on the partnership, Prof. Oramah said:
“The renewed Afreximbank ITC partnership will play a transformative role in expanding Africa’s creative industries, deepening South-South cooperation with the Caribbean, and ensuring the private sector fully benefits from AfCFTA.
This collaboration underscores our belief that SMEs are the true drivers of Africa’s growth.”
He added that by choosing IATF2025 as the platform for the signing, Afreximbank and ITC reaffirmed the fair’s status as a vital hub for connecting African SMEs with global markets and investors.
Empowering SMEs and Creative Industries
Through the Afreximbank ITC partnership, SMEs and creative entrepreneurs across Africa will gain enhanced visibility and new access to international markets.
This collaboration scales up ongoing joint efforts to empower Africa’s creative industries, which include fashion, film, music, and digital media—sectors that are increasingly shaping Africa’s global image and contributing to economic diversification.
Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of ITC, emphasized:
“Our long-term Afreximbank ITC partnership is built on creating new ways for Africa to engage with global markets.
With this renewed cooperation, we aim to make trade easier, more accessible, and less costly—particularly for small businesses, women, and youth-led enterprises that form the backbone of Africa’s economy.”
A Landmark at IATF2025
The announcement was one of the highlights of IATF2025, which concluded earlier this month in Algiers.
The fair attracted more than 112,000 visitors from 132 countries and recorded trade and investment deals worth $48.3 billion across its seven-day run.
With 2,148 exhibitors, IATF2025 cemented its reputation as the continent’s premier platform for unlocking intra-African trade and investment opportunities.
The presence of global leaders, investors, and business stakeholders at the fair underscored its role in facilitating dialogue, deal-making, and strategic partnerships like the renewed Afreximbank ITC partnership.
Driving AfCFTA’s Private Sector Impact
One of the central goals of the renewed MoU is to amplify the impact of the AfCFTA on the private sector.
By equipping African businesses with capacity-building programs, access to finance, and knowledge-sharing platforms, the Afreximbank ITC partnership aims to transform Africa’s demographic potential into a powerful economic engine.
This collaboration will also support trade facilitation tools, develop sector-specific programs, and foster stronger linkages between Africa and the Caribbean, reinforcing Africa’s role as a key player in global South-South trade.
About the Intra-African Trade Fair
The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is organized by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
It provides a unique platform for showcasing goods and services, sharing investment information, and fostering cross-border business collaborations.
The fair is open to African and international businesses seeking to explore opportunities on the continent.
For more details, visit www.IntraAfricanTradeFair.com.
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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.
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