African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the East African Business Council (EABC) have partnered to expand digital trade access for businesses across East Africa. The partnership aims to link companies to the 300 million-consumer East African Community Common Market and the 1.3 billion-consumer African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market. This initiative is being delivered through Afreximbank's Africa Trade Gateway, a digital platform designed to connect businesses with buyers, suppliers, financial institutions, and other services needed to complete cross-border transactions.
The partnership was formalized through an Africa Trade Gateway Agency Agreement signed during the inaugural East Africa CEO & Investment Forum in Nairobi on September 17-18, 2026. The agreement builds on EABC's work to promote digital trade tools among its members and support their onboarding onto the platform. The partnership aims to address practical barriers to cross-border trade, including finding reliable trading partners, accessing market information, and connecting with finance and payment services.
Emeka Onyia, Director, Digital Business and Innovation at Afreximbank, described the Africa Trade Gateway as Africa's digital trade ecosystem. The platform connects businesses with partners and services needed to trade, helping companies identify opportunities, engage with trusted buyers and suppliers, and access financial institutions. Onyia added that the partnership with EABC will enable more East African businesses to enter new markets with greater confidence by accessing the trusted network and digital services available through the Africa Trade Gateway.
The partnership also focuses on helping East African businesses understand regulatory requirements for accessing markets under the AfCFTA. EABC is empowering East African enterprises with knowledge on AfCFTA market opportunities, Rules of Origin, tariff concessions, customs procedures, and export requirements. The organization is also providing tailored advisory support on market entry and export readiness to its members.
As an onboarding agent for the Afreximbank Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), EABC is connecting enterprises to the platform, enabling access to business-to-business matchmaking and trade finance solutions that can facilitate intra-African trade under the AfCFTA. The partnership combines EABC's regional business network with ATG's digital services, aiming to reduce information, partner identification, and financing barriers that can limit cross-border trade.
The platform is expected to provide businesses with access to verified buyers and suppliers across Africa and beyond, while also providing information on potential trading partners and links to finance and payment solutions. African businesses are increasingly seeking to use the AfCFTA to expand beyond their domestic markets, and this partnership is expected to facilitate this process.
The agreement comes as a significant development in the region, with the potential to increase trade and economic growth. By leveraging digital technologies, Afreximbank and EABC aim to promote economic integration and development in East Africa, ultimately contributing to the growth of the African economy. The partnership is a key step towards achieving the goals of the AfCFTA and promoting economic development in the region.
Key points
- The partnership between Afreximbank and EABC aims to link East African businesses to the 300 million-consumer EAC Common Market and 1.3 billion-consumer AfCFTA market.
- The Africa Trade Gateway platform provides businesses with access to verified buyers and suppliers across Africa and beyond, as well as information on potential trading partners and links to finance and payment solutions.
- The partnership focuses on helping East African businesses understand regulatory requirements for accessing markets under the AfCFTA.
