Chii.africa, Zimo Clan, Maistrade Partner to Boost Intra-African Trade

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Chii.africa, Zimo Clan and Maistrade Multipurpose Cooperative Federation Limited have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing digital commerce, cooperative participation and cross-border trade across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The partners said the collaboration would combine Chii.africa’s trade intelligence and coordination infrastructure, Zimo Clan’s community network platform and Maistrade’s cooperative development expertise to support farmers, traders, cooperatives, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), commodity aggregators and entrepreneurs.

According to a statement issued on Saturday, the initiative seeks to strengthen digital market access, trade traceability, cooperative finance structures and cross-border trade coordination while aligning with continental trade priorities under AfCFTA and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).

The integrated ecosystem, operating through the ChiiMais platform, is expected to provide participants with access to networks of producers, buyers, traders, service providers and ecosystem partners across African markets.

The partners said the platform would facilitate cooperative and SME onboarding, digital identity and verification systems, product traceability, agricultural marketplace participation and savings coordination.

They added that farmers would benefit from improved market visibility and access to verified trade opportunities, while traders and cooperatives would gain access to structured value chains, digital management tools and broader market opportunities.

A key component of the partnership is the development of trade verification infrastructure to improve product authentication, supplier credibility, transparent record management and digital trade coordination.

President and Chief Vision Officer of Maistrade Multipurpose Cooperative Federation Limited, Benjamin Okei Aduli, said the collaboration would create practical opportunities for African producers, traders and SMEs to participate more effectively in the continent’s economic growth.

Also speaking, Architect of Chii.africa, Tauya Langton Makoni, said the future of African trade would depend on intelligent, traceable and interoperable digital systems capable of connecting communities and businesses across borders.

The partners disclosed that onboarding activities have commenced through the Zimo Clan and ChiiMais platforms, with plans to expand operations into additional African markets through strategic partnerships and cooperative networks.

Chii.africa is a Pan-African trade intelligence and coordination platform focused on trade traceability, digital trust infrastructure and market intelligence, while Maistrade is a Nigerian cooperative federation promoting financial inclusion, agricultural value chains and technology-enabled cooperative systems. Zimo Clan operates as a community and entrepreneurship platform supporting collaboration and economic participation across Africa.