The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says its goal to make Nigeria permanent regional office, has been achieved with its just commissioned $120 million Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja.

The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, said , noting that the project, which began in November 2021 in Abuja, has brought a three-decade-old aspiration to fruition.

“This project marks the first of seven planned Afreximbank African Trade Centres (AATCs) across Africa, including Kampala, Uganda, Harare, Zimbabwe, Cairo, Egypt, Yaoundé, Cameroon, Tunis, Tunisia, and Kigali, Rwanda,” he said.

He emphasized that the project’s an initiative that aims to accelerate intra-African trade, deepen regional integration and foster economic transformation across the continent with a potential to advance the country’s ambition of emerging as the regional hub.

He added , this AATC in Abuja has been a 41 -month journey—one built on hope and determination. Like the other centres, it will serve a multi-purpose function: as a hub for fostering deeper regional and continental integration.

Oramah expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its unwavering support, describing the bank’s relationship with Nigeria as mutually beneficial and cordial.

“Over the last three decades, successive governments have extended unflinching support to Afreximbank—responding positively to capital calls, providing an enabling environment for smooth operations, and offering strong domestic policy support that helped implement numerous development programmes in Nigeria.

“With these, we expect to create a sizable network of AATCs that will serve as lighthouses guiding the interconnections and flow of trade and investment within continental Africa and between Africa and the Caribbean,” he added.

At the commissioning of the centre, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, praised Afreximbank for its strategic foresight, describing the Abuja AATC as a “vital infrastructure” for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA.

She noted that as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in Africa’s economic landscape, the AATC is expected to catalyze investment, local entrepreneurship, and export promotion.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume, highlighted the AATC’s strategic importance, its pivotal role in shaping Africa’s economic future, and its potential impact on the continent’s trade and investment landscape.

Meanwhile, the Abuja AATC comprises two interconnected nine-storey towers.

One tower features world-class commercial A-grade office spaces, a trade and exhibition centre, a conference centre, a technology and SME incubator, a Digital Trade Gateway and a trade information services hub.

The adjoining tower boasts a 148-room business hotel, seminar and meeting rooms, a wellness centre, a restaurant and other ancillary facilities.

These features are designed to provide a comprehensive ecosystem for trade and business activities, catering to the diverse needs of African businesses.

It also host office spaces for local and international financial institutions and policy organisations, ensuring a complete support system for trade and business activities.