The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) last year disbursed a total of $18.7 to support trade, industrialisation, and business development across the African continent, the bank’s Chief Group Economist, Dr. Yemi Kale, disclosed yesterday.

Kale confirmed the figure during the presentation of the 2025 Africa Trade Report at the ongoing 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank in Abuja.

He described Afreximbank’s interventions as central to shaping the continent’s trade and economic structure, noting that the bank’s funding activities are designed to engineer transformation and strengthen the foundations of African enterprise and intra-continental commerce.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has pledged her commitment to collaborate with the bank as the continent seeks to build resilient institutions and deepen regional integration.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Dr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, said the country is prepared to lead and work with partners to advance Africa’s development priorities.

He noted that Africa must move from mere resilience to a phase of renewal, requiring increased mobilization of blended finance to attract private capital for infrastructure and green energy investments.

Also speaking on the occasion, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso, noted Afreximbank’s timely interventions during critical moments, including its counter-cyclical trade finance facility and contributions to Africa’s public health response.

He warned of growing challenges such as global protectionism, economic fragmentation, and geopolitical tensions that are increasingly affecting Africa’s development.

According to the 2025 Trade Report, Africa’s economy has demonstrated resilience in the face of persistent global economic uncertainty, and the continent’s future competitiveness depends heavily on a renewed focus on intra-African trade, especially through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The report identified three core financial pillars needed to unlock AfCFTA’s full potential and convert it into meaningful economic outcomes such as job creation and industrial upgrading. These are scaling African-owned development banks and sovereign-backed investment funds; establishing interoperable, low-cost cross-border payment and settlement systems; and projecting a unified African voice underpinned by robust data in global financial and regulatory fora.

With these pillars in place, the report suggested that Africa could turn global volatility into a springboard for inclusive and sustained growth.

“The evolving global and regional financial landscape presents both opportunities and challenges. While volatility in global markets, rising protectionism, and the reorientation of foreign direct investment flows pose risks, regional financial integration and the deepening of structural reforms provide a counterweight,” the report stated.

It added that infrastructure investments, if strategically aligned with the objectives of the AfCFTA, could drive intra-African value chains and reduce the continent’s dependence on external trading partners.

The report further argues that African economies must focus on policy harmonisation, investment coordination, and targeted industrial policies to build regional supply networks, stimulate manufacturing, and achieve economies of scale. These efforts, it said, will enable African countries to diversify their exports, increase value addition, and improve their standings in global trade rankings.

“By adopting integrated strategies that merge finance, trade, and industrial policy,” it notes, “African economies can become more resilient, inclusive, and competitive within the shifting contours of the global market.”

Kale reiterated the role Afreximbank continues to play in this transformation. “The bank is not just providing funding,” he said, “it is facilitating the building blocks of a modern African trade ecosystem—one that is structured to deliver long-term economic dividends and regional stability.”

VP Shettima said “the AfCFTA should serve as the anchor for regional value chains, backed by industrial policies that can scale continent-wide.”

He also called for the “institutionalization of digital trade platforms such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and the MANSA repository, to reduce trade costs and promote intra-African commerce.” Strengthening institutions such as Afreximbank with additional capital, stronger governance, and risk-sharing structures, he said, is key to delivering inclusive transformation that benefits youth, women, and small businesses.

Cardoso said the bank’s 32-year track record has made it a stabilizing force, advancing intra-African trade and integrating the continent into global value chains. He stressed that “building resilient institutions requires long-term thinking, preparation for disruptions, transparency, and robust governance systems.”

According to him, the CBN has spent the last year rebuilding trust and credibility through clear policies and disciplined actions. He said these efforts are aimed at laying a stronger foundation for a resilient financial system.

Beyond resilience, Cardoso urged African countries to work more closely to implement AfCFTA, strengthen regional ties, and enhance engagement with the diaspora. Looking to the future, he called for a “shift toward African-led green growth, digital connectivity, food and energy security, and private sector-led innovation.”

Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, Denys Denya, described Africa as being at a critical turning point. He called for stronger support for African financial institutions, good governance, and deeper regional cooperation.

“The success of these institutions depends not only on internal reforms but also on the political will of African governments to protect and strengthen them,” he said.

He added that beyond routine policy and macroeconomic management, Africa must focus on “industrialization, value-added exports, and diversification of trade partners.”

Denya said improving regional trade through AfCFTA and forging strategic alliances would help open new markets, enhance competitiveness, and drive innovation.

He pledged Afreximbank’s continued support for African countries, recalling the bank’s past interventions during the commodity downturn, COVID-19, and the Ukraine-related disruptions.

The 32nd AGM of Afreximbank in Abuja has attracted key stakeholders from across the African continent and beyond, including policymakers, multilateral institutions, private sector leaders, and development finance experts. Discussions have focused on accelerating trade integration, reducing trade financing gaps, and leveraging innovation and technology to expand Africa’s trade footprint.

The presentation of the Africa Trade Report is part of the bank’s broader agenda to inform policymaking, guide investment decisions, and deepen understanding of the region’s trade dynamics in a rapidly changing world.