The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has officially broken ground on its Afreximbank African Trade Centre Egypt, located in the Diplomatic District of Egypt’s New Capital, about 45 kilometres east of Cairo (Afreximbank Official). This iconic facility will also house Afreximbank’s new global headquarters and serve as a strategic hub for trade, finance, and investment opportunities Africa (Investment in Africa Afreximbank President George Elombi).
Driving Africa’s Economic Development Goals
Speaking at the ceremony, Egypt’s Prime Minister, H.E. Dr Mostafa Madbouly, emphasized that the new African Trade Centre Egypt reflects Egypt’s pivotal role in continental economic integration and trade facilitation (Economic Development Strategies). The centre will provide essential trade intelligence, market insights, and capacity-building initiatives, supporting Africa’s broader economic development goals.
Dr George Elombi, Afreximbank’s President and Chairman, noted that the centre is designed to address the longstanding challenge of limited trade and investment information among African businesses, a barrier that has constrained intra-African trade and investment growth for decades (Afreximbank’s Impact on Trade African Trade Growth Impact).
Strengthening Egypt-Africa Trade and Investment
Afreximbank has partnered closely with the Egyptian government, which has hosted the Bank’s global headquarters since 1993. Egypt, represented by its Central Bank, remains the largest sovereign shareholder of Afreximbank. To date, the Bank has disbursed over US$41 billion into the Egyptian economy, supporting strategic sectors including energy, telecommunications, construction, and manufacturing while fostering stronger Egypt-Africa trade ties (Economic Collaboration Arab Africa).
“The centre will help Egyptian and African entities capitalise on Afreximbank investment opportunities Africa, facilitating projects across the continent,” Dr Elombi added (Business Expansion South Africa UK Trade Deals G20).
State-of-the-Art Facility and Innovation Hub
Spanning 48,888 square metres with six floors and two basement levels, the AATC will offer 57,298 square metres of office space for Afreximbank staff, African and international agencies, and select African diplomatic missions. The modern complex integrates green courtyards, shaded walkways, and collaborative spaces to encourage interaction, learning, and innovation (Green Energy Solutions Africa Afreximbank COP30).
Key features include:
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Trade information and knowledge centre
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SME incubation and innovation hub (UAE-Africa Partnerships Technology Investment AI Innovation Africa)
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110-room aparthotel and 750-seater conference centre
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Exhibition, retail, and dining facilities
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Extensive parking with 1,200 bays
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Smart energy-efficient systems and solar integration aiming for Gold-level LEED certification
This development is expected to generate significant employment during construction and operations, creating opportunities for local contractors, SMEs, and service providers (Afreximbank President George Elombi Sworn-in Investiture Ceremony News).
Expanding the African Trade Centre Network
The Cairo AATC is part of Afreximbank’s vision to establish a network of trade centres in strategic African and Caribbean hubs, including Abuja, Harare, Kampala, Abidjan, Yaoundé, Bridgetown, Kigali, and Tunis. These centres will provide trade intelligence, financing, networking, and collaboration platforms to accelerate intra-African trade and strengthen economic cooperation (AI-Driven Warehouse Management Automation in African Logistics).
Scheduled for completion in early 2029, the Cairo centre follows the AATC-Barbados groundbreaking in March 2025 and the official opening of the AATC in Abuja in April 2025. Projects in Harare and Kampala are already underway, connecting businesses, governments, financial institutions, and trade communities across Africa and beyond (Ibrahim Mahama Exhibitions African Art Galleries Contemporary African Artists).
For travellers interested in exploring Egypt, visit our travel booking site (Afrikeye Travel) for tailored experiences.
