ALGIERS, Algeria, September 9, 2025/APO Group: The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has launched the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC), aiming to catalyse large-scale trade in raw materials, minerals, and value-added products from across Africa.
Afreximbank, through the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), has set up ATDC in collaboration with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), Equitane DMCC, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
An interesting highlight is that the newly set up entity has already secured a US$1 billion funding pledge from Afreximbank to invest in the aggregation of value-added goods, support logistics and distribution networks, as well as financing its subsidiaries’ business operations.
The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, officiated the operational launch of ATDC in an event held during the ongoing Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria, in the presence of the Acting Prime Minister of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Sifi Ghrieb, as well as several Government heads hailing from African and Caribbean countries.
The ATDC Minerals (ATMIN), dedicated to trading and financing minerals and hydrocarbons, was also unveiled at the launch of the ATDC’s flagship subsidiary.
Prof. Benedict Oramah commented: “Africa is rich in resources; but historical dynamics have skewed our trade outwards. Traditionally, the continent has relied on others to add value to its commodities and minerals as well as to trade them. Through ATDC and ATMIN, we aim to close the loop and take back control of how our commodities and minerals in global Africa are produced and traded across value chains by integrating them in local economies to benefit more people.”
While the CEO of ATDC, Abdul Aziz Ba observed: “We look forward to cultivating a robust trading ecosystem across Africa that integrates with global markets for shared prosperity through impactful partnerships and effective logistics. Through this, we will transform intra-African trade by driving the continent’s transition from the export of raw materials and minerals to value-added products and last-mile distribution. ATDC is investing in expanding production and processing capacity, establishing connections across regional value chains and to markets, and delivering effective distribution channels”.
On the other hand, CEO of ATMIN, Ajay Oommen, noted: “ATMIN is committed to supporting the monetisation of Africa’s abundant fossil fuel resources ahead of the global energy transition. We aim to foster stronger Intra-African trade, drive value addition, and streamline supply chains to ensure that a significant share of this value is retained within the continent.”
The fourth edition of IATF2025 is ongoing until September 10, 2025, and is considered as a biennial event co-convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and hosted by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. The last three editions of IATF have cumulatively generated over $118 billion in trade and investment deals, attracting more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors.
