The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the SADC Business Council (SADC BC) on Wednesday in Kinshasa launched the SADC – Africa Trade and Investment Marketplace to promote regional trade and unlock investment opportunities.
Afreximbank said in a statement in Lagos that the Marketplace would also to deepen economic cooperation and drive sustainable business growth between the SADC region and the rest of Africa.
“The SADC – Africa Trade and Investment Marketplace will provide the private sector in the SADC region with a platform to foster higher levels of engagement in trade and investment-related matters with the rest of Africa,” the statement said.
Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Afreximbank Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade Bank, was quoted as saying : “We are delighted at the launch of the SADC – Africa Trade and Investment Marketplace which will play a pivotal role in promoting the SADC industrialisation agenda and facilitating business to business exchanges aimed at increasing the volume of trade and investment between SADC and the rest of Africa under the AfCFTA.
“Afreximbank remains committed to supporting the trade and investment agreements and deals generated from the SADC – Africa Trade and Investment Marketplace.’’
“As a prime public sector partner in forging SADC’s development and integration, SADC BC is committed to promoting sustainable growth of businesses in the region.
Also speaking at the launch, Mr. Peter Varndell, Executive Secretary at the SADC Business Council, said: “Greater regional integration of the private sector is paramount to boost intra-African trade, strengthen the complementarities of production and exports and create employment.
“I encourage the private sector to explore this marketplace fully to actively engage in productive dialogue, to share their experiences, to collaborate and develop innovative ways to advance SADC’s economic relationship with Africa for the benefit of all our citizens.”
The SADC – Africa Trade and Investment Marketplace was launched during the 6th annual SADC Industrialization Week (SIW) held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The SIW is an annual public-private engagement platform aimed at fostering new opportunities for intra-African trade and investment.
As a partner of the SIW, Afreximbank places great importance on regional economic integration and sees genuine promise in the prospects for enhanced trade relationships in Africa.
The SADC Business Council (SADC BC) is a regional apex body for SADC private sector.
It represents national and regional apex business associations of the 16 SADC member States.
SADC BC is the prime public sector partner in forging SADC development and integration.
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade
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