At a Glance
- Afreximbank launches African Trade and Distribution Company to boost intra-African trade.
- New ATDC subsidiary secures $3 billion mineral, oil trade deals across Africa.
- Partnerships with AfCFTA, Arise, and regional firms strengthen supply chains and logistics.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has launched the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC), a new vehicle designed to expand large-scale trade in raw materials, minerals, and manufactured goods across Africa.
The initiative was established through the bank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) in partnership with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, Equitane DMCC, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
Afreximbank has pledged $1 billion in funding to back ATDC’s activities, including investments in value-added goods, logistics and distribution networks, and support for its subsidiaries’ operations.
Launch event in Algiers
The official launch took place during the ongoing Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.
Afreximbank President and Chairman Benedict Oramah led the event, joined by Algeria’s acting Prime Minister, Sifi Ghrieb, along with ministers and government officials from across Africa and the Caribbean.
“Africa is rich in resources, but for too long our trade has been directed outward,” Oramah said at the event.
“We want to change that by ensuring that value addition and trade happen within the continent, so more Africans benefit directly from our commodities and minerals.”
Alongside ATDC, the bank introduced ATDC Minerals (ATMIN), a flagship subsidiary focused on the trade and financing of minerals and hydrocarbons.
Partnerships and deals secured
ATDC has already signed agreements with firms across sectors including logistics, agriculture, and minerals. These include a collaboration with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms to supply feedstock for its operations in special economic zones, and a co-investment deal with BSMART Technology Limited to develop digital logistics hubs at major African ports.
Trade agreements were also reached with Export Trading Group, KK Kingdom Nigeria Limited, and Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited. ATDC is pursuing joint ventures with CBZ Holdings in Zimbabwe and the Nigeria Commodity Exchange to establish national ATDCs in both countries.
ATMIN, meanwhile, disclosed deals worth about $3 billion, including oil lifting arrangements with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Roxzen Nigeria Limited.
By building this network of partnerships, Afreximbank aims to strengthen intra-African supply chains, reduce reliance on external markets, and expand trade opportunities under the AfCFTA framework.
