The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) officially launched the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC), a new initiative designed to catalyse large-scale trade in raw materials, minerals, and value-added products across Africa.
Established through Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) in partnership with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), Equitane DMCC, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, ATDC has secured a US$1 billion funding commitment from Afreximbank. This capital will support the aggregation of value-added goods, strengthen logistics and distribution networks, and finance the operations of ATDC’s subsidiaries.The operational launch took place at the ongoing Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria. The ceremony was presided over by Prof.
Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Afreximbank, and attended by Sifi Ghrieb, Acting Prime Minister of Algeria, alongside government officials from African and Caribbean nations.A significant milestone was the unveiling of ATDC’s flagship subsidiary, ATDC Minerals (ATMIN), which will focus on the trading and financing of minerals and hydrocarbons.Prof. Oramah emphasized Africa’s rich resource base but noted the continent’s historical reliance on external actors to add value and trade its commodities.
“Through ATDC and ATMIN, we aim to close the loop by integrating production and trading within local economies to benefit more people,” he said.During the launch event, ATDC signed several strategic agreements with firms across Africa, covering sectors such as logistics, minerals, and agricultural produce. Partnerships include collaboration with Arise IIP for feedstock supplies to special economic zones, co-investment with BSMART Technology Limited to develop digital logistics hubs at key African ports, and trade partnerships with Export Trading Group (ETG), KK Kingdom Nigeria Limited, and Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited.
Furthermore, joint ventures with CBZ Holdings and Nigeria Commodity Exchange were announced to establish national ATDC entities in Zimbabwe and Nigeria.ATMIN disclosed deals valued at approximately US$3 billion, including major oil lifting agreements with Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited and Roxzen Nigeria Limited.Abdul Aziz Ba, CEO of ATDC, expressed ambition for the company to cultivate a robust trading ecosystem across Africa, linking production, processing, and distribution to global markets.
“We are driving the continent’s transition from the export of raw materials to value-added products through strategic partnerships and effective logistics,” Ba said.Ajay Oommen, CEO of ATMIN, highlighted the subsidiary’s role in supporting monetization of Africa’s fossil fuel resources ahead of the global energy transition, aiming to retain significant value within the continent.
