With more robust banking industry measures to link the continent’s economies, there are signs that intra-African trade is now thriving.
With 47 subsidiaries throughout the continent, Nigeria’s banking sector likewise seems to be spearheading the movement. Because of this reach, continental trade is now receiving the necessary financial support at the same time that states in the region are removing sovereign barriers via the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
With operations in roughly 16 African countries, Access Bank PLC, one of the continent’s top financial institutions, has shown that it has the ability and will to promote economic integration on the continent. Eight other subsidiaries outside of Africa enhance this continental reach, expanding the potential for African business owners worldwide.
Through active and smooth cross-border financial operations, the bank has now launched its own initiative to realize the aspirations of a common continental market.
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To assist bring about that shift, the bank will host the Africa Trade Conference (ATC) 2026 on March 11 in Cape Town, South Africa. In the series of such strategic conferences, this would be the second edition.
Through ministerial panels, investor sessions, innovation showcases, and policy-aligned workshops, it aims to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA, fortify trade finance and payment systems, unlock capital flows, and produce tangible intra-African and international trade results.
In order to move from the mere presence of African markets to their intentional integration, Access Bank’s GMD/CEO Roosevelt Ogbonna and Executive Director Seyi Kumapayi stressed that Africa needs to develop its own trade finance architecture, fortify cross-border payment and regulatory systems, and take advantage of institutional scale to lower barriers for SMEs and large corporations.
Ogbonna stated unequivocally that “Africa will not be a spectator in the remaking of global trade” as the motivation behind the bank’s endeavor.
“Africa cannot continue to wait for global systems to accommodate it on fair terms,” he continued. We need to create our own trade finance framework, develop our own institutions to international standards, and construct our own routes. On our own terms, not in seclusion from the outside world.
He presented Africa as a significant economic player that must assert its position in international trade, not as a charity case.
Speaking as well, Kumapayi, Access Bank’s Executive Director for African Subsidiaries, pointed out that three main obstacles still impede African trade. He mentioned a lack of trustworthy information, a lack of confidence amongst trading partners, and restricted access to reasonably priced financing.
He said: “These difficulties contribute to the reason that commerce between African nations is still only around 16 percent of global trade, which is significantly less than
Asia accounts for 40% and Europe for 60%.
Trade inside Africa in a globalized market
Trade is evolving in the dynamic global economic landscape. As nations search for reliable partners and alternate production locations, supply chains are changing. With 1.3 billion people, a combined GDP of over $3 trillion, and abundant natural resources, Africa offers a lot of options.
However, without robust financial systems, effective infrastructure, unambiguous regulations, and cutting-edge technology, this possibility will remain unrealized.
Access Bank is aware of this. For this reason, it characterizes ATC 2026 as a gathering place for policy, finance, technology, and business rather than a banking event.
The advantages of this approach are substantial for Nigeria. Access Bank is creating a network that facilitates and lowers the cost of cross-border trade for Nigerian companies as it grows throughout 24 countries, including 16 in Africa. Trade documentation becomes simpler to manage, payments become more seamless, and risks are better controlled. Approximately $2 billion has already been raised by the bank from development finance organizations for long-term loans throughout Africa. This cash has the potential to bridge Africa’s estimated $81 billion yearly trade finance gap if it is used effectively.
Numerous advantages of ATC
This is more than just statistics for Nigerian exporters, farmers, and manufacturers. It entails having access to supply chain financing, working capital, and trade guarantees that let them compete internationally. It also entails assistance in fulfilling international standards, which is one of the main challenges Nigeria’s non-oil exports face. Exporters can interact directly with authorities, certifying bodies, logistics companies, and foreign purchasers through ATC 2026. Direct communication like this aids in removing obstacles that documentation cannot resolve on its own.
Additionally, the meeting makes room for creativity. As scheduled, investors and partners will be shown Nigerian fintech companies, agritech businesses, and logistics solutions. This is significant since technology is increasingly playing a major role in contemporary trade. Africa’s trading systems have long been hampered by manual procedures, disjointed payment systems, and limited information availability. ATC 2026 will concentrate on the ways that digital tools, such as quicker payment systems and more intelligent credit evaluations, may lower expenses and expedite transactions. According to studies, digital trade solutions might save up to 15% on trade expenses, which would be a big benefit for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The economy of other Africans stand to gain as well. Access Bank is becoming more well-known in Southern, Eastern, and Central Africa because to recent growth and acquisitions. The fact that Cape Town is hosting the conference for the second time emphasizes how important South Africa is as a gateway economy.
Additionally, it creates opportunities for regional trade models in which South African infrastructure, Nigerian capital, and regional supply chains collaborate. These interconnected value chains could be advantageous to nations like Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially in the areas of mining, energy, and agriculture.
The core of this vision is the AfCFTA.
The agreement has been signed and recognized by the majority of African nations, but implementation is still inconsistent. Slow progress is being made on tariff schedules, rules of origin, and the elimination of non-tariff barriers.
Policymakers and regulators can interact directly with companies and financiers using the informal but effective platform provided by ATC 2026. Because they concentrate on workable solutions, these discussions frequently yield greater results than formal negotiations.
Access Bank facilitates the conversion of political agreements into actual economic activity by offering the operational and financial resources required for cross-border trade.
Inclusion is one of the conference’s other main themes. Despite owning a significant portion of small enterprises throughout Africa, women and young people are frequently shut out of trade finance.
SMEs only receive a modest portion of the available trade finance, although making up over 80% of all jobs on the continent. To increase access to money, ATC 2026 will investigate novel financing strategies like receivables discounting and supply chain finance. This is not only a social objective; if Africa wishes to increase intracontinental trade, it is also economically necessary.
Additionally, the conference is held in the face of escalating international competition for African markets. Large nations are extending their investment and trade programs throughout the continent. These collaborations present risks in addition to opportunities. ATC 2026 is an example of an African-led platform that helps guarantee that foreign interactions are in line with Africa’s own development aspirations. It supports the notion that rather than only exporting raw resources, Africa should add value locally and engage in commerce with the rest of the world on its own terms.
Crucially, ATC 2026 places a strong emphasis on action. A desire to go beyond pronouncements to execution is shown in the theme’s emphasis on “real-world impact.” Trade is based on consistency, relationships, and confidence. The conference acknowledges that transactions are frequently closed through ongoing interaction rather than one-time encounters by fusing business talks with networking and cultural events.
Platforms like as ATC 2026 have transformed Africa from a commodity supplier. It is starting to influence the laws, structures, and connections that characterize international trade.
