The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has officially launched the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionising trade in raw materials, minerals, hydrocarbons, and value-added goods across Africa. Backed by a $1 billion funding commitment, ATDC is set to address long-standing challenges in Africa’s commodity trading landscape while strengthening regional value chains and boosting the continent’s participation in global markets.
The company was formally launched on Wednesday in Algiers, Algeria, during the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025). The event was attended by Algeria’s Acting Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, African heads of state, ministers, development partners, and leading private-sector players.
ATDC was established through the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) as a joint initiative involving Afreximbank, Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), Equitane DMCC, and the AfCFTA Secretariat. The launch marks a historic milestone in Afreximbank’s mission to drive industrialisation, expand intra-African trade, and reduce the continent’s dependence on raw commodity exports.
Breaking Africa’s Cycle of Raw Commodity Exports
Speaking at the launch, Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah stressed the importance of ATDC in reshaping how Africa trades its resources.
“For decades, Africa has remained a supplier of raw materials while wealth creation took place elsewhere. Through ATDC and its flagship subsidiary ATMIN, we aim to close that loop by integrating commodities and minerals into African economies and creating local value chains that benefit our people,” Oramah said.
He emphasised that ATDC will support the broader goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by creating a structured system for intra-African trade, enabling producers, traders, and governments to capture greater value from Africa’s vast resource endowment.
ATMIN: A Dedicated Minerals and Hydrocarbons Subsidiary
At the launch, ATDC unveiled ATDC Minerals (ATMIN), a flagship subsidiary focused on trading and financing Africa’s mineral and hydrocarbon resources. ATMIN immediately announced landmark deals valued at $3 billion, including oil lifting agreements with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Roxzen Nigeria Limited.
ATMIN CEO Ajay Oommen said the subsidiary will play a strategic role in monetising Africa’s fossil fuel resources while balancing the continent’s positioning ahead of the global energy transition.
“Africa must benefit from its natural resources before the window closes. ATMIN will provide financing and trading structures that allow African governments and companies to leverage their commodities effectively,” Oommen noted.
Building Integrated Value Chains
ATDC also signed a series of strategic partnerships designed to foster industrial linkages, logistics development, and regional trade integration. Among the highlights:
- A collaboration with Arise IIP to ensure steady feedstock supply for Africa’s emerging industrial zones.
- A co-investment partnership with BSMART Technology to establish digital logistics hubs in key African ports, enhancing efficiency and reducing transaction costs.
- Trade repo agreements with ETG, KK Kingdom Nigeria, and Sunbeth Global Concepts, aimed at strengthening cross-border commodity trade.
- Joint ventures with CBZ Holdings and the Nigeria Commodity Exchange to establish national ATDC subsidiaries in Zimbabwe and Nigeria, serving as pilots for future country-level operations.
ATDC CEO Abdul Aziz Ba highlighted that the company’s model is built on partnerships and inclusivity.
“ATDC will cultivate a robust trading ecosystem that connects African markets while integrating with global systems. Our mission is to ensure that trade translates into shared prosperity for all Africans,” he said.
Driving Continental Trade Ambitions
The launch of ATDC comes at a crucial time as African leaders intensify efforts to unlock the continent’s trade potential under the AfCFTA, which aims to create the world’s largest free trade area by connecting 1.4 billion people across 55 nations.
By providing structured platforms for trading raw materials and value-added products, ATDC is expected to significantly reduce Africa’s trade costs, deepen market integration, and promote regional industrialisation.
According to Afreximbank, the company will also help Africa capture a greater share of global commodity value, estimated at trillions of dollars annually, which currently bypasses the continent due to fragmented markets, inadequate infrastructure, and weak trading platforms.
A Strong Showcase at IATF2025
The unveiling of ATDC was one of the high points of IATF2025, a biennial trade fair co-hosted by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The fourth edition of the fair, held in Algiers, is projected to drive more than $44 billion in trade and investment deals, cementing its role as the continent’s premier trade and investment marketplace.
In addition to ATDC’s launch, the fair has witnessed several groundbreaking announcements, including:
- The United Bank for Africa (UBA) unveiling a ₦239.4 billion rights issue to accelerate expansion and digital innovation across Africa.
- A $1 billion trade and investment programme signed between Afreximbank and the Government of Morocco.
These initiatives underscore the growing momentum behind Africa’s trade integration and the rising confidence in its economic prospects.
Looking Ahead
The launch of ATDC represents a bold step toward creating a more resilient, self-reliant, and prosperous Africa. With a strong funding base, strategic partnerships, and an ambitious agenda, the company is poised to transform how Africa trades both within the continent and with the rest of the world.
Prof. Oramah summed it up best: “Africa’s future lies in trade that works for Africans. ATDC is the instrument through which we can finally reclaim ownership of our resources and ensure that the wealth of Africa serves its people.”
As IATF2025 concludes in Algiers, the spotlight now shifts to how ATDC and its partners will implement their commitments and deliver on their promise of building a new era of African trade and prosperity.
