'This is my plea': Exiting Afreximbank chief calls on African banks to close trade finance gap

Outgoing Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah after he delivered his final plea for African financiers to close the continent's $100 billion trade finance gap. [Courtesy]

In a stirring farewell address at the close of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, outgoing Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah issued an emotional appeal to African financial institutions and trade insurers to urgently support continental trade, declaring the lack of capital and risk mitigation the biggest barriers to integration.

Speaking as the record-breaking trade fair concluded with $48.3 billion in deals signed, Oramah expressed particular frustration at the absence of African development banks, commercial lenders, and credit insurers.