The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that it will host its annual trade finance seminar and compliance forum in Gaborone, Botswana, from November 16 to 18, 2026. The event, organized in partnership with the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), will bring together policymakers, financial leaders, regulators, and trade professionals. The seminar will focus on trade finance in the era of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and will discuss ways to facilitate investments, support industrialization, and promote the circulation of goods and capital among African economies.
The seminar, themed "Trade Finance in the Era of AfCFTA: Resilient Value Chains, Infrastructure, and Market Integration," will explore the mechanisms necessary to implement the AfCFTA. Discussions will center on strengthening regional value chains, financing trade-related infrastructure, and finding solutions to the financing gap faced by many African businesses. According to Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank's Global Trade Bank, the meeting comes at a critical time for continental trade, as the expansion of the African market created by the AfCFTA must be accompanied by sufficient financial capacity to support trade and connect economies.
The compliance forum, themed "Better Compliance for Better Trade: Leveraging Compliance to Promote African Regulations Fostering Intra-African Economic and Trade Integration," will focus on the importance of compliance in promoting trust and security in trade. Idrissa Diop, Director of Compliance at Afreximbank, emphasized that compliance should no longer be seen solely as a regulatory constraint, but as a lever for confidence and security in trade. The forum will identify ways to harmonize standards, better manage emerging risks, and reduce unnecessary regulatory obstacles to business development.
The event will provide an opportunity for Botswana to showcase its position in the regional trade and financial architecture. Keletsositse Olebile, CEO of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, highlighted the importance of hosting delegates from several African regions and the rest of the world, while promoting Botswana's ambitions as a regional trade and investment hub. The event is expected to create bridges between finance, regulation, and trade, which are considered essential for the success of African economic integration.
The seminar and forum will be followed by a workshop on November 19, focused on factoring and alternative financing solutions aimed at expanding access to financial resources for businesses. Afreximbank aims to create more connections between finance, regulation, and trade, which are crucial for African economic integration. The event will provide a platform for participants to discuss ways to promote intra-African trade and investment.
The event is expected to attract a diverse range of participants, including policymakers, financial leaders, regulators, and trade professionals. The seminar and forum will provide a unique opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. The event will also provide a platform for Botswana to showcase its investment opportunities and promote its position as a regional trade and investment hub.
Registration and program information for the ACF2026 and ATFS2026 are available on Afreximbank's official seminar platform. The event is expected to be a significant milestone in promoting intra-African trade and investment, and Afreximbank's efforts to support the implementation of the AfCFTA.
Key points
- - The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will host its annual trade finance seminar and compliance forum in Gaborone, Botswana, from November 16 to 18, 2026. - The event will focus on trade finance in the era of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and will discuss ways to facilitate investments, support industrialization, and promote the circulation of goods and capital among African economies. - The seminar and forum will provide a platform for participants to discuss ways to promote intra-African trade and investment.
