The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has officially appointed Real Sources Africa as an authorised agent of its Africa Trade Gateway platform. The partnership, sealed through an agency agreement, is meant to make it easier for African SMEs to access new markets and connect with global buyers, according to CNBC Africa.
Felix Chege, CEO of Real Sources Africa, explained that the Africa Trade Gateway is not just a policy tool but a practical ecosystem. He said the goal is to move beyond frameworks set by the AfCFTA Secretariat and deliver real transactions that empower SMEs, distributors, aggregators and retailers across the continent.
Currently,intra-African trade stands trade stands at just 17 percent of the continent’s commerce. The new platform aims to double that figure to about 34 percent in the next two to three years. Chege noted that this will be achieved by using data-driven insights to identify opportunities quickly and make trade processes more efficient.
A key selling point of the Gateway is its trust factor. Afreximbank’s credibility underpins a bank-backed escrow system, meaning buyers and sellers only release funds once orders are confirmed. This approach seeks to overcome the doubts many traders have about digital payments, given past experiences of fraud and failed deliveries.
Some traders still worry about bureaucracy slowing things down. But Chege stressed that Real Sources Africa will work closely with importers and exporters on the ground to prove the system’s efficiency. “The plan is to build confidence one transaction at a time,” he said.
Looking ahead, Chege believes the long-term vision is to push intra-African trade beyond 50 percent. For him, the journey starts small—by handholding traders through real, verifiable deals until trust and volume naturally grow.
