At the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) today unveiled the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC), a strategic initiative designed to transform the continent’s trade architecture by facilitating large-scale movement of value-added goods.
The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah officiated the operational launch of ATDC in an event held during the ongoing Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria. This was in the presence of the Acting Prime Minister of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Sifi Ghrieb and other heads of government and ministers from African and Caribbean countries.
The new entity has already secured a US$1 billion funding pledge from Afreximbank to invest in aggregation of value-added goods, support logistics and distribution networks as well as financing its subsidiaries’ business operations.
ATDC is established through a collaborative framework with key partners, including the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), Equitane DMCC, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
ATDC’s flagship subsidiary, ATDC Minerals (ATMIN), was introduced simultaneously. ATMIN will specialise in the trading and financing of minerals and hydrocarbons, signalling a new era of regional control over Africa’s abundant resources.
“Africa is rich in resources; but historical dynamics have skewed our trade outwards. Traditionally, the continent has relied on others to add value to its commodities and minerals as well as to trade them,” said Prof. Oramah. “Through ATDC and ATMIN, we aim to close the loop and to take back control of how our commodities and minerals in global Africa are produced and traded across value chains by integrating them in local economies to benefit more people.”
On the sidelines of the launch, ATDC signed deals with several firms across the continent, including a collaboration with Arise IIP to supply feedstock to operations in special economic zones, a co-investment deal with BSMART Technology Limited to develop digital logistics hubs at key African ports, agreements with Export Trading Group, KK Kingdom Nigeria, and Sunbeth Global Concepts to establish trade repositories, as well as joint ventures with CBZ Holdings and the Nigeria Commodity Exchange to set up national ATDC operations in Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
ATMIN also announced major deals valued at approximately US$3 billion, including oil lifting arrangements with Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited and Roxzen Nigeria Limited.
“These are transformational steps toward building a robust trading ecosystem,” said ATDC CEO Abdul Aziz Ba. “We aim to shift Africa’s export profile from raw materials to value-added goods, leveraging effective logistics and market integration for shared prosperity.”
ATMIN’s CEO, Ajay Oommen, added: “ATMIN is committed to monetising Africa’s fossil fuel resources amid the global energy transition, ensuring that value retention and supply chain efficiencies benefit the continent.”
This announcement comes as IATF2025 continues through 10 September, offering a platform convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission, and the AfCFTA Secretariat. The fair harnesses the potential of a AfCFTA single market of over 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding US$3.5 trillion.
It is the fourth edition of IATF, the biennial event co-convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and hosted by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
The last three editions of IATF have cumulatively generated over $118 billion in trade and investment deals and attracted more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors. IATF is a platform for businesses to showcase their goods and services to visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. It aims to tap into opportunities from AfCFTA’s single market of over 1.4 billion people and GDP of over US$3.5 trillion.
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