Strengthening Africa’s Trade Finance Ecosystem
Africa’s $100 billion annual trade finance gap will take centre stage at the 25th Trade Finance Seminar (ATFS2025), organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
The event will take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 4-6 November 2025, followed by a Factoring Workshop on 7 November 2025. Together, these sessions aim to give financial professionals the tools, insights, and partnerships they need to unlock new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Importantly, the seminar arrives at a critical time when global credit conditions are tightening. As a result, African banks and businesses must find new ways to access affordable financing.
Empowering SMEs Through Structured Finance
SMEs represent more than 90% of Africa’s businesses, yet many struggle to access credit. ATFS2025 will tackle this issue by showcasing structured trade finance solutions that help convert “unbankable” transactions into viable opportunities.
“As global regulations tighten and international lenders scale back, Africa must strengthen its own capacity to deploy structured trade finance,” said Ms. Gwen Mwaba, Afreximbank’s Managing Director of Trade Finance and Correspondent Banking. “Hosting this training in Africa allows hundreds of African professionals to build critical expertise at a fraction of the cost of similar programmes in the main global financial centres such as London, Singapore, or New York.”
Furthermore, Ms. Mwaba emphasised that hosting the training in Africa makes the programme accessible to hundreds of professionals.
A High-Level Programme of Global Expertise
The seminar features keynotes, workshops and expert panels led by distinguished professionals from across the world.
Highlights include:
- Unlocking Africa’s Trade Finance Potential: Expanding Supply While Reducing Costs – by Marc Auboin, World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Africa’s Emerging Role in Global Energy Finance – by Sylvia Macri, S&P Global Commodity Insights
- Reserve-Based Lending Workshop – with Dr. Lekan Aluko (Petrovision Energy Services) and Peter Olowononi (Afreximbank)
In addition, participants will explore topics such as syndications and agency, key trade finance documents, and the role of development banks in reducing Africa’s trade finance gap.
Closing Africa’s Financing Divide
By hosting ATFS2025 in Abidjan, Afreximbank continues to strengthen Africa’s trade finance ecosystem. The event will empower participants to design practical solutions, foster cross-border collaboration, and promote sustainable trade growth.
Consequently, ATFS2025 also supports the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by preparing African businesses to compete globally through better access to capital and trade knowledge.
Participants can access the full programme and register at https://ATFS2025.AfreximbankEvents.com.
