The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the East African Business Council (EABC) have signed an agency agreement intended to widen access to digital trade services for businesses across East Africa, linking enterprises to regional and continental markets.
The Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) Agency Agreement was signed in Nairobi as part of efforts to strengthen private-sector participation in the East African Community (EAC) Common Market and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). EABC, the regional private-sector body, will act as an agency partner for the ATG, helping businesses access its digital trade ecosystem.
The initiative is aimed particularly at reducing some of the practical barriers that can limit cross-border commerce, including difficulties identifying credible trading partners, obtaining market information, navigating regulatory requirements and securing trade finance. Under the arrangement, businesses will be able to use ATG services connecting them with potential buyers, suppliers, financial institutions and other trade-support providers.
Afreximbank executive vice-president for global trade bank, Haytham El Maayergi, said the partnership was intended to help businesses move from identifying commercial opportunities to completing transactions. EABC executive director Ahmed Farah said the organisation would support enterprises with information on AfCFTA market opportunities, rules of origin, tariff concessions, customs procedures and export requirements.
The ATG brings together several digital services developed to address different stages of an African cross-border transaction. These include business-to-business trading, business verification and due diligence, trade intelligence and regulatory services, alongside digital payment infrastructure supporting cross-border transactions. Afreximbank has positioned the ecosystem as part of its broader effort to reduce trade costs and strengthen intra-African commerce.
For East African firms, the agreement builds on initiatives already under way to improve access to continental markets. EABC has reported that enterprises in sectors including textiles, edible oils and leather have received support to understand AfCFTA market requirements and connect with the ATG.
The partnership comes as African policymakers and businesses seek to translate continental trade commitments into practical commercial activity. Digital platforms can reduce information and transaction barriers, but their impact will depend on businesses’ ability to meet product standards, navigate national regulations, access finance and operate within reliable logistics and digital infrastructure.
The EABC-Afreximbank agreement therefore represents one component of a wider effort to make African markets more accessible from within the continent. Its longer-term significance will depend on whether greater digital connectivity translates into sustained trade flows, stronger regional value chains and wider participation by smaller enterprises.
