Access Bank Plc has positioned the 2026 edition of the Africa Trade Conference as a strategic forum to shape the future of Africa’s engagement in global trade, drive policy dialogue, and deepen partnerships between African economies and international markets.
This was asserted by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Monday, where he described ATC as more than a traditional convening.
The PUNCH reports that Access Bank held the maiden edition of ATC in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2025, to boost intra-African trade and address a trade finance gap. Ogbonna said the conference, with the theme ‘Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact’, will bring together influential leaders from government, finance, trade, logistics, technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and policy to drive practical, outcome-orientated solutions for expanding intra-African and global trade.
He said, “Africa is no longer at the margins of global trade conversations. The question today is not about potential; it is about execution. The Africa Trade Conference is designed as a platform for action, not rhetoric. It brings together the people shaping policy, capital, infrastructure, and innovation to build the systems that will define Africa’s trade future.
“At Access Bank, we see ourselves not just as financiers, but as connectors of markets, ideas, and opportunities. Our role is to help African businesses move from ambition to impact, from local relevance to global competitiveness.”
With operations in 24 countries globally, including 16 across Africa, Ogbonna maintained that Access Bank’s expansive footprint places it in a unique position to facilitate cross-border trade, unlock regional value chains, and simplify the complexities of doing business across markets.
“Our presence across Africa and key global corridors gives us a front-row seat to the realities of trade,” Ogbonna noted. “It also gives us the responsibility to design solutions that are inclusive, scalable, and future-facing. ATC 2026 is part of that commitment.”
The conference will spotlight the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area, exploring how policy harmonisation, infrastructure development, digitisation, and innovative financing can unlock Africa’s full trade capacity.
Discussions will also examine the role of technology in global commerce, sustainable trade practices, solutions for market access, and new financing models to support Africa’s growing SME and industrial base.
“Africa will not be a spectator in the remaking of global trade. We will be one of its architects. ATC 2026 is where those blueprints will be drawn,” the bank CEO concluded.
