By Suleman Chitera
Abuja, Nigeria – The city of Abuja is abuzz with anticipation as it prepares to host the 32nd Annual Meetings of the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM Bank), a high-profile continental summit scheduled for June 25–27.
The summit, which is expected to be the largest in the Bank’s history, will draw over 6,000 delegates from across Africa and beyond. The attendees will include Heads of State, senior government officials, global business leaders, trade experts, and development partners, all converging under the banner of advancing Africa’s trade and industrialisation agenda.
Malawi’s President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, is among the key African leaders set to attend the summit. He will lead Malawi’s delegation and participate in the Presidential Plenary Session, where discussions will focus on enhancing regional trade and investment cooperation between African and Caribbean nations.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Chakwera is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, AFREXIM Bank President Professor Benedict Oramah, and other influential African leaders. These meetings are geared toward unlocking investment opportunities for Malawi and strengthening economic partnerships across the continent.
AFREXIM Bank, a Pan-African multilateral financial institution, has been instrumental in transforming Africa’s trade landscape for more than three decades. Its mandate includes financing, facilitating, and promoting intra- and extra-African trade. The Bank continues to deploy innovative financial instruments aimed at accelerating Africa’s industrial growth and regional trade integration.
Malawi has been a beneficiary of the Bank’s support, particularly in areas of economic development and industrialisation. Key initiatives include:
- A US$100 million Trade Finance Facilitation Facility signed with National Bank of Malawi (NBM), aimed at bolstering trade in manufacturing, energy, and agriculture.
- A US$2.6 million grant provided in 2023 to support the establishment of mega farms and the development of an industrial park in Blantyre.
As Abuja becomes the focal point of global trade dialogue, the 32nd AFREXIM Bank Annual Meetings signal a renewed commitment by African nations to forge deeper trade ties, foster industrial growth, and drive sustainable development across the continent.
