Africa Trade Gateway Takes Digital Trade to the Next Level; Launches national adoption awareness initiative in Rwanda
The Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), a pioneering digital trade ecosystem designed to revolutionize Africa’s trade, has launched an initiative for national adoption awareness in Rwanda, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s economic integration journey.
A collaboration between African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the ATG is a one-stop digital trade ecosystem designed to make AfCFTA work in practice by enabling businesses to find trusted partners, secure financing, complete cross-border payments, and access new markets with confidence. It connects buyers, sellers, financial institutions, and logistics providers across Africa. By providing a seamless and efficient continental digital infrastructure, businesses can conduct trade to scale trade activities – hence increase Intra-African trade, promote trade and economic integration, and create jobs.
The Government of Rwanda, a key partner in its local implementation, rallied private sector players to embrace digital trade, terming it as ‘a huge leap in trade liberalisation that will achieve the promise of the AfCFTA.
“The Africa Trade Gateway represents more than technology; it symbolizes Africa’s readiness to define its own digital destiny. As we deepen our integration under the AfCFTA, let us ensure that digital trade becomes a cornerstone of industrialisation, inclusion, and resilience. Rwanda stands ready to play its part as a committed partner, a digital innovator, and a champion of continental cooperation,” said Alexis Kabayiza, Chief Technical advisor at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda.
The event brought together key stakeholders in trade, including senior government officials, the Private Sector Federation, Rwanda Bankers Association, banking executives, diplomats, importers and exporters, entrepreneurs, Rwandese business industry associations, and Real Sources Africa (the AfCFTA Trading Company), and representative from Afreximbank.
Speaking during the launch, Mr. Emeka Onyia, Director of Digital Banking at Afreximbank said: “The Africa Trade Gateway is a game-changer for African trade. It is the boldest economic project of our time — Africa’s gateway to transformation. Intra-African trade still accounts for less than 15% of our total trade which demonstrates that we simply don’t trade enough with ourselves. This is the perfect place to take the Africa Trade Gateway to the next level — from concept to community, from potential to impact.”
Other speakers emphasized the significance of this initiative, terming it as Africa’s one-stop digital ecosystem designed to accelerate the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol. “The ATG represents far more than a system — it is the gateway to Africa’s next economic era. Africa’s trade future is digital, integration is achievable, and the Africa Trade Gateway is the highway that will get us there,” stated Felix Kabara Chege, CEO Real Sources Africa.
The ATG launch in Rwanda is a significant step towards realizing the AfCFTA’s vision of a single, integrated African market. With its innovative digital solutions and collaborative approach, the ATG is poised to transform the face of African trade and contribute to the continent’s economic growth and development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.
Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com
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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com
