Afreximbank Launches $1bn African Trade and Distribution Company to Boost Intra-African Commerce
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has launched the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC), a new vehicle aimed at reshaping how Africa trades its raw materials, minerals, and value-added products.
The company, unveiled during the ongoing Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria, is backed by a $1 billion funding pledge from Afreximbank. The money will be used to strengthen logistics and distribution networks, aggregate value-added goods, and finance the company’s subsidiaries across the continent.
The launch comes at a time when Africa is seeking to shift away from exporting raw materials without processing them locally. By building strong supply chains and investing in local value addition, ATDC is expected to help African countries capture more of the wealth generated from their resources.
Closing the Loop on Africa’s Trade
Launching the initiative, Afreximbank President, Prof. Benedict Oramah, said Africa has for too long depended on others to add value to its commodities before trading them back to the continent at higher prices.
“Africa is rich in resources; but historical dynamics have skewed our trade outwards. Through ATDC and its minerals arm, ATMIN, we aim to close the loop and take back control of how our commodities and minerals are produced and traded by integrating them into local economies,” he explained.
ATDC’s flagship subsidiary, ATDC Minerals (ATMIN), has already signed major deals worth about $3 billion, including oil lifting arrangements with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited.
Building Stronger African Value Chains
The new entity has also entered into partnerships across sectors, from agricultural produce to logistics and minerals. Deals include collaborations to build digitally integrated logistics hubs in key African ports and co-investments to supply feedstock to industrial platforms in special economic zones. National ATDCs will also be rolled out in Zimbabwe and Nigeria, paving the way for other African markets.
CEO of ATDC, Abdul Aziz Ba, said the new company will play a central role in transforming Intra-African trade.
“Through this, we will transform Africa’s trade by driving the shift from raw material exports to value-added production and last-mile distribution. ATDC is investing in expanding processing capacity, linking regional value chains, and creating effective distribution channels,” he said.
What it Means for Ghanaian Businesses
For Ghana, the creation of ATDC could open new avenues for farmers, miners, and manufacturers to expand into continental markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Cocoa processors, cashew exporters, gold refiners, and agro-based SMEs stand to benefit from the stronger logistics and trade financing support that ATDC promises to deliver.
The network also presents opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to plug into larger regional value chains, reducing dependency on raw commodity exports while improving access to buyers across Africa. For instance, local shea butter processors, fisheries exporters, and even artisanal gold refiners could leverage ATDC’s logistics hubs to reach new markets faster and at more competitive rates.
Boost for AfCFTA’s Promise
The launch of ATDC is seen as a concrete step toward realizing the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a single market of over 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of $3.5 trillion.
The Intra-African Trade Fair itself has become a major marketplace for this integration agenda. Since its inception, the fair has generated over $118 billion in trade and investment deals. By anchoring ATDC’s operational debut at IATF2025, Afreximbank signals its intent to build practical institutions that can move Africa beyond talk and into action.
For Ghanaian entrepreneurs and exporters, the message is clear: a more connected Africa is emerging, and those ready to embrace value addition and regional trade partnerships stand to gain the most.
