The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Africa’s trade finance bank, is hosting a series of events this week in Kigali for its 24th Annual General Meeting (AGM) as a catalyst to boost the African trade agenda
Against a backdrop of trade and economic transformation, the landmark gathering of more than 100 speakers, academics, and African and global trade development experts will discuss how to unlock Africa’s trade potential, with insights and solutions for accelerating trade diversification. The events begin on 28 June with discussions centered around; trade as a catalyst for industrialising Africa; boosting intra-African trade for regional integration and expanding African trade in a world of rising protectionism.
“As many are grappling with the exit of international trade finance from the continent, intra-African trade is now an ultimate priority,” says Dr Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank. “There is an urgency to get the continent moving, and there is no better time than this AGM to discuss ‘Impact 2021: Africa Transformed’, our medium-term strategy to deliver on intra-African trade; industrialisation; trade finance leadership and solid financial performance. We look forward to sharing this, and collaborating with all partners, to bring about the transformation that’s required.”
Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, and Anastasia Murakezi, the Prime Minister, are expected to attend. The AGM activities will open with two days of seminars, followed on 30 June by the meeting of the Afreximbank Advisory Group on Trade Finance and Export Development in Africa.
Investment opportunities and deeper integration within the East African Community will also be explored from Friday 30 June at an Investment Forum and Trade Exhibition, hosted jointly by Afreximbank and the Rwandan Development Board. The exhibition will give regional business entities the opportunity to showcase their products and services and prizes will be awarded to the best exhibitors.
A series of side events have been planned for the AGM, including a roundtable of intra-African trade champions, launch of the 2016 African Trade Report, an ECOBANK Africa-Africa Forum, and a session on Afreximbank’s Central Bank Deposit Programme.
The AGM activities will conclude on 1 July with the formal Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Bank and reflections by President Kagame on “The path to a Continental Free Trade Area for Africa”.
