AFREXIMBANK and Ecobank Group have joined forces to revolutionise trade and compliance in Africa through a new partnership that integrates the Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub with the MANSA Digital Repository Platform. This collaboration aims to streamline cross-border business processes and enhance opportunities for African enterprises.
The Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub connects businesses across the continent, enabling them to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’s (AfCFTA) vast market of 1.4 billion people. By offering insights, matchmaking features, and trade facilitation services, the platform empowers small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to showcase their goods, find trade partners, and finalise transactions using Ecobank’s trade and payment solutions across 35 African markets.
Through the partnership, users of the Ecobank platform can now access MANSA’s centralised database for efficient know-your-customer (KYC) and customer due diligence (CDD) checks. MANSA platform users, on the other hand, gain direct connectivity to the Single Market Trade Hub to explore business opportunities and grow their presence across Africa.
MANSA, developed by Afreximbank, serves as a one-stop repository for due diligence information on African entities, promoting good governance and transparency. It provides African businesses with the tools to expand and add value to their exports while fostering trust among counterparties. Additionally, the platform assigns Africa Entity Identifier (AEI) codes, offering businesses access to Afreximbank’s suite of products and initiatives.
‘This partnership is a significant step towards breaking barriers that hinder intra-African trade,’ said a joint statement from the organisations. ‘By addressing compliance challenges and enabling seamless trade, we are paving the way for stronger economic integration.’
The improved interoperability of these platforms aligns with Afreximbank’s Africa Trade Gateway initiative, a digital marketplace designed to support the implementation of AfCFTA and promote intra-African trade. Verified information and trusted networks on these platforms are expected to accelerate business activities, especially for SMEs, by reducing information asymmetry and bolstering confidence among trade partners.
With operations spanning 35 African countries, this collaboration positions Afreximbank and Ecobank as central players in driving the continent’s economic growth and financial integration. As African businesses gain easier access to trade opportunities and compliance tools, the partnership could be a game-changer for intra-African commerce.
