Program Background

In 2017, The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) spearheaded, in consultation, collaboration, and coordination with esteemed partners, the inception of the Arab Africa Trade Bridges Program (AATB). This groundbreaking initiative was designed to foster regional trade and investment promotion between Arab and African nations. The AATB is a testament to our commitment to addressing the challenges that have hindered the business communities in these regions from fully harnessing their trade and investment potentials on both regional and global scales.

As Africa gears up for the imminent implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the AATB Program emerges as a strategic catalyst. It aims to capitalize on the creation of a trade buffer for the entire African continent, igniting a surge in intra-African trade. Under AfCFTA, 54 out of 57 African countries are poised to eliminate up to 90% of their trade tariffs and significantly reduce Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), fostering unhindered trade movement within Africa.