The Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), a pioneering digital trade ecosystem designed to revolutionize Africa’s trade, has launched an initiative for national adoption awareness in Rwanda, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s economic integration journey.
A collaboration between African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the ATG is a one-stop digital trade ecosystem designed to make AfCFTA work in practice by enabling businesses to find trusted partners, secure financing, complete cross-border payments, and access new markets with confidence. It connects buyers, sellers, financial institutions, and logistics providers across Africa. By providing a seamless and efficient continental digital infrastructure, businesses can conduct trade to scale trade activities – hence increase Intra-African trade, promote trade and economic integration, and create jobs.
“The Africa Trade Gateway represents more than technology; it symbolizes Africa’s readiness to define its own digital destiny. As we deepen our integration under the AfCFTA, let us ensure that digital trade becomes a cornerstone of industrialisation, inclusion, and resilience. Rwanda stands ready to play its part as a committed partner, a digital innovator, and a champion of continental cooperation,” said Alexis Kabayiza, Chief Technical advisor at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda.
The event brought together key stakeholders in trade, including senior government officials, the Private Sector Federation, Rwanda Bankers Association, banking executives, diplomats, importers and exporters, entrepreneurs, Rwandese business industry associations, and Real Sources Africa (the AfCFTA Trading Company), and representative from Afreximbank.
Speaking during the launch, Mr. Emeka Onyia, Director of Digital Banking at Afreximbank said: “The Africa Trade Gateway is a game-changer for African trade. It is the boldest economic project of our time — Africa’s gateway to transformation. Intra-African trade still accounts for less than 15% of our total trade which demonstrates that we simply don’t trade enough with ourselves. This is the perfect place to take the Africa Trade Gateway to the next level — from concept to community, from potential to impact.”
Other speakers emphasized the significance of this initiative, terming it as Africa’s one-stop digital ecosystem designed to accelerate the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol. “The ATG represents far more than a system — it is the gateway to Africa’s next economic era. Africa’s trade future is digital, integration is achievable, and the Africa Trade Gateway is the highway that will get us there,” stated Felix Kabara Chege, CEO Real Sources Africa.
The ATG launch in Rwanda is a significant step towards realizing the AfCFTA’s vision of a single, integrated African market. With its innovative digital solutions and collaborative approach, the ATG is poised to transform the face of African trade and contribute to the continent’s economic growth and development.
Read the original article on Afreximbank.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.
AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa – aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 110 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC.
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy.
Almost finished…
We need to confirm your email address.
To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you.
There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.
source
