Mbekeani, Experts to Headline Access Bank’s ATC in Cape Town
Nume Ekeghe
Director General, Southern Africa Region at the African Development Bank (AfDB) Kennedy Mbekeani, Managing Director, Banking Operations at the African Export-Import Bank, Kwabena Ayirebi, Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Botswana’s Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Tiroeaone Ntsima, Global Director at the International Finance Corporation Nathalie Louat, and Florian Wittof Oddo-BHF are among top policymakers and finance leaders confirmed to headline the second edition of the Africa Trade Conference (ATC 2026) convened by Access Bank Plc.
Access Bank in a statement noted that the high-level conference, scheduled for March 11, 2026, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, is designed as a strategic platform to accelerate Africa’s integration into global trade and drive practical implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Building on the momentum of its maiden edition, which attracted senior decision-makers from 28 countries, ATC 2026 is themed: “Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact.”
Speaking on the significance of the conference, Ogbonna described ATC as more than a traditional convening.
“Africa is no longer at the margins of global trade conversations. The question today is not about potential, it is about execution. The Africa Trade Conference is designed as a platform for action, not rhetoric. It brings together the people shaping policy, capital, infrastructure, and innovation to build the systems that will define Africa’s trade future,” Ogbonna added.
