Afreximbank is set to bring together two of its flagship annual knowledge-sharing and capacity-building programmes – the Afreximbank Trade Finance Seminar and the Afreximbank Compliance Forum – in Gaborone, Botswana, from 16 to 18 November 2026. The combined programme, organised in partnership with the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), aims to strengthen trade finance, compliance, and Africa's economic transformation. Industry leaders, policymakers, and experts will gather to exchange knowledge and explore ways to support trade, investment, industrialisation, and economic integration.
The joint Trade Finance Seminar and Compliance Forum will focus on the role of trade finance and compliance in supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The seminar will examine how trade finance can strengthen regional value chains, finance trade-enabling infrastructure, and accelerate economic integration across the continent. The event will also feature a Factoring Workshop on 19 November, which will discuss the role of factoring and other alternative trade finance solutions in supporting businesses and expanding access to finance.
The Afreximbank Trade Finance Seminar 2026 (ATFS2026) will be held under the theme "Trade Financing in the AfCFTA Era: Resilient Value Chains, Infrastructure and Market Integration." According to Mr Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank, the seminar comes at a critical time for African trade, as the AfCFTA creates a larger and more integrated market. The success of the AfCFTA will depend on the ability to finance trade, value chains, and infrastructure that connect African economies.
Mr Keletsositse Olebile, Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, highlighted the importance of hosting the seminar in Botswana. He said that the event will showcase Botswana's growing role as a regional trade and investment hub and its commitment to advancing economic development and continental cooperation. The seminar will also provide an opportunity for Botswana to welcome delegates from across Africa and beyond.
The Afreximbank Compliance Forum 2026 (ACF2026) will be held under the theme "Better Compliance, Better Trade: Leveraging Compliance to Promote African Regulations that Advance Intra-African Economic and Trade Integration." According to Mr Idrissa Diop, Compliance Director at Afreximbank, compliance must be recognised as an essential enabler of trusted, resilient, and sustainable trade. The forum aims to bring together institutions shaping Africa's financial and trade architecture to identify practical ways of aligning compliance standards and reducing unnecessary barriers to intra-African trade.
The combined programme will provide a platform for Global Africa's financial, regulatory, and trade communities to exchange knowledge, share perspectives, and explore ways to support trade, investment, industrialisation, and economic integration. The event is expected to attract delegates from across Africa and beyond, providing an opportunity for networking and collaboration.
The Afreximbank Trade Finance Seminar and Compliance Forum will take place at the Gaborone International Convention Centre in Botswana from 16 to 18 November 2026. The Factoring Workshop will be held on 19 November. Delegates can expect a comprehensive programme that addresses the critical issues facing African trade and finance.
Key points
- Afreximbank will host a combined trade finance and compliance seminar in Botswana from 16 to 18 November 2026.
- The seminar aims to strengthen trade finance, compliance, and Africa's economic transformation.
- The event will feature a Factoring Workshop on 19 November, discussing alternative trade finance solutions.
