CAIRO - 13 December 2025: The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Africa’s leading multilateral financial institution, has launched the groundbreaking ceremony for its African Trade Centre (AATC) and new global headquarters in Egypt’s New Capital.
The event took place in the Diplomatic District, a modern hub that brings together government ministries, foreign embassies, and international organisations.
The development will be the first African Trade Centre of its kind in North Africa and is designed to serve as a hub for trade, investment and financial cooperation across the continent.
Speaking at the event, Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, said the project reflects Egypt’s role in supporting continental economic integration and trade facilitation.
He noted that hosting Afreximbank’s global headquarters strengthens Egypt’s position as a regional and continental trade and investment hub.
Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, George Elombi, said Egypt has hosted the bank’s headquarters since its establishment in 1993 and remains its largest sovereign shareholder through the Central Bank of Egypt.
He added that the new Trade Centre is intended to address longstanding gaps in trade and investment information that have constrained intra-African trade growth.
Elombi said Afreximbank has disbursed more than $41 billion into the Egyptian economy, supporting investments in sectors including energy, telecommunications, construction and manufacturing, while facilitating the expansion of Egyptian businesses into African markets.
The Afreximbank African Trade Centre in Cairo will house trade-supporting infrastructure, including technology and SME incubation centres and a digital African trade gateway offering trade information, compliance services and payment solutions.
The project aims to position Egypt as a central platform for African trade and investment activity.
The development will be built on a 48,888-square-metre site with a total gross built-up area of 156,147 square metres, comprising two basement levels and six floors.
It will provide more than 57,000 square metres of office space, alongside facilities including a trade information centre, library and knowledge hub, innovation and SME incubation centre, business centre, conference and exhibition facilities, a 110-room aparthotel, retail and dining outlets, and a 1,200-space parking structure.
The complex has been designed to meet Gold-level LEED certification standards, incorporating energy-efficient systems, solar power, water-saving technologies and climate-responsive architectural features.
Hassan Allam Construction has been appointed as the main contractor under a contract valued at $249.5 million, while EHAF Consulting Engineers will lead architectural design and project supervision.
Scheduled for completion in early 2029, the Cairo project forms part of Afreximbank’s wider plan to establish a network of African Trade Centres across Africa and the Caribbean.
Groundbreaking has already taken place in Barbados, while centres in Abuja have commenced operations, with additional projects underway or planned in Harare, Kampala, Abidjan, Yaoundé, Kigali and Tunis.
The network aims to support trade, investment flows and economic cooperation by connecting businesses, governments, financial institutions and development partners across Africa and beyond.
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment