George Elombi

Nigeria’s signing of the Host Agreement for the 5th Intra-African Trade Fair - IATF (IATF2027) in Lagos marks another decisive step toward building the African marketplace we have long envisioned.

The Intra-African Trade Fair IATF was created to do more than convene conferences. It was designed to connect African producers with African markets, unlock investment opportunities, and translate the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area into real commercial activity.

Over the past four editions, IATF has generated more than $160 billion in trade and investment deals. Behind those numbers are entrepreneurs, manufacturers, innovators and small businesses whose ideas have found partners, markets and capital across the continent.

Nigeria’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and industrial depth make it a natural home for the next edition. Lagos has long been a gateway for African commerce, creativity and innovation, and it will provide a powerful platform for the continent’s businesses to meet, trade and grow.

I remain deeply grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Government of Nigeria, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Hon. Minister, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the African Union Commission, the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA), our team at African Export Import Bank - Afreximbank and the many partners whose commitment made this moment possible.

We must use IATF2027 to expand regional value chains, increase value addition across Africa’s resources, create jobs for our people and move intra-African trade beyond the levels we see today.

When Africans choose to trade with one another and build together, the possibilities for transformation are limitless.

Regional connectivity is central to unlocking trade and strengthening economic resilience across small island states. This was at the heart of my discussion with Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, on the sidelines of the 50th CARICOM: Caribbean Community Heads of Government Meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis.

We focused on aligning support for Dominica’s development agenda through modern port infrastructure that can anchor trade growth, expand tourism, and enhance long-term resilience, while improving inter-regional connectivity to facilitate the movement of people and goods and deepen trade across the Caribbean and Global Africa.

At African Export Import Bank - Afreximbank we look forward to working with the Government and people of Dominica to structure and deliver bankable infrastructure projects that support sustainable growth.

Met with Dr the Hon. Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on the sidelines of the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines presents important opportunities for productive growth and long-term transformation, and we had an open and practical discussion about the country’s development priorities, including revitalising agriculture and fisheries, expanding tourism capacity, strengthening the creative and technology sectors, and unlocking the potential of shipping, marine and yachting services. These priorities speak directly to building productive capacity, creating jobs, and strengthening economic resilience.

Access to affordable, well-structured capital remains central to delivering these ambitions. African Export Import Bank - Afreximbank stands ready to work with St. Vincent and the Grenadines to turn these priorities into bankable, executable projects.

We began our engagements at the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa with a strategic meeting with our partners at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa led by Executive Secretary Dr. Claver Gatete.

Our exchange reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing Africa’s trade, industrialisation, and financial resilience through stronger institutional collaboration and deeper regional integration. It is through partnerships such as this that we continue to shape practical pathways toward a more self-reliant, prosperous, and globally competitive Africa.

African Export Import Bank - Afreximbank

We have taken a decisive step toward reshaping Africa’s gold economy through a partnership between African Export Import Bank - Afreximbank and the Central Bank of Egypt - البنك المركزي المصري to establish a pan-African Gold Bank programme.

This partnership lays the foundation for an African Gold Bank that will transform how we extract, refine, store, value, and trade our gold, ensuring Africa’s gold serves African people.

By retaining value on the continent and building strategic gold reserves, we strengthen resilience, improve currency stability, reduce exposure to external shocks, and create lasting wealth. Africa is ready to build its gold systems on its own terms, for the benefit of its people.