Nigeria has formally joined the Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program following the signing of a historic membership agreement on the sidelines of the fifth meeting of the AATB Board of Governors organized by the Federal Government in Abuja.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Adeeb Y. Al Aama, Executive Director of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and Secretary General of the AATB Programme, and Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy.
The partnership provides a strategic framework to enhance Nigeria’s trade competitiveness, promote export diversification, strengthen priority value chains and support capacity building efforts aligned with national development objectives.
Under the agreement, areas of collaboration will cover trade promotion, agribusiness modernization, SME development, trade facilitation, improved logistics, trade missions and digital trade readiness.
Welcoming Nigeria to the programme, Mr Al Aama described the country as one of the most dynamic and resilient economies in Africa, with great potential in agribusiness, energy, manufacturing and digital industries.
He said the partnership would expand access to regional markets, strengthen trade finance opportunities and support development priorities.
Minister Wale Edun reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening regional economic cooperation, noting that the agreement aligns with the government’s agenda to drive trade-led growth.
The AATB Programme, supported by Afreximbank, BADEA, the Islamic Development Bank, ITFC, ICIEC and ICD, aims to boost trade and investment flows between African and Arab member states of the OIC.
Its interventions focus on agriculture and related industries, health and pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and transportation, petrochemicals, construction materials and technology.
With Nigeria’s accession, the program expands its regional presence and gains an important partner to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development across the continent.
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