Afreximbank has officially broken ground on its new African Trade Centre and global headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, marking a major milestone for the continent’s trade ambitions.
The facility, located in the Diplomatic District about 45 kilometres east of Cairo, will place Afreximbank at the heart of a modern zone hosting government ministries, foreign embassies, and international organisations. It will be the first trade centre of its kind in North Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony, Egypt’s Prime Minister, Dr Mostafa Madbouly, described the project as a reflection of Egypt’s central role in promoting African economic integration and trade. He noted that hosting Afreximbank’s headquarters reinforces Egypt’s position as a continental trade and investment hub.
Afreximbank President and Board Chairman, Dr George Elombi, thanked the Egyptian government for its long-standing support, noting that Egypt has hosted the bank’s headquarters since its establishment in 1993 and remains its largest sovereign shareholder. He revealed that Afreximbank has disbursed about US$41 billion into the Egyptian economy, supporting sectors such as energy, telecommunications, construction, and manufacturing.
Dr Elombi explained that the new African Trade Centre is designed to address one of Africa’s long-standing challenges: limited access to reliable trade and investment information. The centre will serve as a hub for trade intelligence, innovation, capacity building, and digital trade services.
Built on a 48,888-square-metre site, the complex will include modern offices, a trade information centre, a library and knowledge hub, an innovation and SME incubation centre, a conference and exhibition centre, retail outlets, and a 110-room aparthotel. It will also feature environmentally friendly designs aimed at achieving Gold-level LEED certification or higher.
Construction will be led by Hassan Allam Construction under a US$249.5 million contract, with EHAF Consulting Engineers overseeing design and supervision. The project is expected to create significant jobs during construction and operations.
Scheduled for completion in early 2029, the Cairo Trade Centre is part of Afreximbank’s wider plan to establish similar hubs across Africa and the Caribbean, including Abuja, Harare, Kampala, Abidjan, and Bridgetown, to boost intra-African trade and economic cooperation.
