Access Bank PLC convened leading policymakers, business executives, and industry stakeholders in Cape Town yesterday for the first-ever Africa Trade Conference, an initiative aimed at unlocking the continent’s immense trade potential.
The conference was organised in response to the evolving global trade landscape, underlining Africa’s need to strengthen its economic resilience through deeper regional cooperation and improved financial and trade infrastructure.
In his keynote address, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank PLC, stressed the importance of Africa taking charge of its economic future by fostering stronger collaboration, investing in financial infrastructure, and developing homegrown solutions that drive sustainable growth.
He noted that the world’s trade dynamics are shifting, with growing nationalist policies and supply chain disruptions disproportionately affecting Africa. However, rather than viewing these challenges as setbacks, Ogbonna urged African nations to seize the opportunity to fortify trade networks, support local enterprises, and build resilience to compete effectively on the global stage.
For Africa to achieve this vision, he highlighted the urgent need to overcome structural obstacles, particularly in business financing. Many African enterprises, he observed, have the ambition to expand but struggle to secure funding due to prohibitively high borrowing costs.
“Many businesses across the continent face significant difficulties in securing the right kind of capital. When they do, the cost is often so high that it becomes nearly impossible to raise funds and still operate competitively,” Ogbonna stated.
“This needs to change. We must create a financial ecosystem that enables businesses to access capital seamlessly—one that allows them to invest in growth, innovation, and the strength required to expand beyond domestic markets.
“It is imperative that Africa develops a network of financial powerhouses committed to crafting solutions tailored to the continent’s unique economic aspirations.”
Beyond financial barriers, Ogbonna identified the lack of access to reliable market intelligence as a major impediment. Many businesses, he explained, struggle to find the information needed to identify trade opportunities beyond their local markets. He argued that leveraging technology to facilitate information-sharing would be crucial in bridging this gap and enabling enterprises to make well-informed decisions about expansion and trade.
Ogbonna also pointed to the issue of trust among trading partners as a persistent challenge. He noted that inconsistent regulations, varying standards, and historical trade barriers have contributed to scepticism about intra-African commerce. Overcoming these concerns, he said, requires deliberate action to harmonise trade policies, foster cooperation, and change perceptions regarding the quality of African goods and services.
He encouraged African businesses to take pride in their locally produced goods, invest in industrial growth, and reject the notion that African-made products are inferior to those from other regions.
Another major focus of Ogbonna’s address was Africa’s outdated trade routes and infrastructure. He recalled that Africa once had well-established trade corridors connecting it to regions such as the Middle East and Asia. However, inefficient transport networks and regulatory hurdles have since made it easier for businesses in Angola to trade with Portugal than with South Africa or Nigeria.
To rectify this, he called for a renewed commitment to enhancing trade infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to ensure that goods, services, and capital can flow freely between African nations.
Concluding his remarks, Ogbonna urged attendees to take meaningful action towards realising Africa’s economic potential. He called on governments, financial institutions, and businesses to utilise platforms such as the Africa Trade Conference to drive real change.
“The objective must be to build an Africa where businesses flourish, financial inclusion is achieved, and locally developed solutions set global standards,” he said.
“Ultimately, we must collectively agree to generate value by working together—governments, financial institutions, and businesses—using our shared influence to create the Africa we can truly be proud of.”
The Access Bank Africa Trade Conference represents a significant step towards fostering dialogue, establishing strategic partnerships, and shaping policies that support Africa’s economic advancement.
As the continent navigates ongoing global uncertainties, events such as this reinforce the message that Africa’s future depends on its ability to collaborate, innovate, and develop a sustainable trade ecosystem that benefits all.
