Afreximbank & ITC Renew Partnership to Boost Intra-African Trade
Cairo / Kampala
The African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have renewed and extended their strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signalling a major step forward for intra-African trade, SME competitiveness, and South-South cooperation.
Details
The renewed MoU, signed at the sidelines of the Intra‑African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in (location), emphasises:
Support for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage more fully in trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Expansion of Africa’s creative industries and cross-regional trade links (including with Caribbean and Arab regions) via Afreximbank’s involvement.
Focus on capacity-building: training, market access, digital platforms and infrastructure to support trade growth for African businesses.
Significance for Uganda
Uganda’s SME sector stands to benefit from improved access to regional markets and trade-finance support tied to AfCFTA.
Creative industries (film, fashion, music) are explicitly included — offering opportunities for Uganda’s cultural sector to scale.
The deeper trade linkages may boost Uganda’s positional strength in East Africa and as a regional logistics hub.
Key considerations & next steps
Firms in Uganda should evaluate readiness: trade credentials, regional compliance, export logistics, digital platforms.
Policymakers must ensure regulatory, customs and border-clearance systems are aligned to support the trade push.
Monitor how this partnership influences actual trade volumes and whether finance/investment flows follow the MoU.
