Nigeria joins Arab Africa trade bridges program to boost agribusiness, industrial growth

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Nigeria has officially joined the Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program, strengthening its position as a key player in advancing trade-led development and fostering inclusive economic growth across Africa and the Arab world.

The membership was formalised with the signing of the AATB Membership Agreement in Abuja on the sidelines of the 5th AATB Board of Governors Meeting.

The agreement, signed by Adeeb Y. Al Aama, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and AATB Secretary General, and Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, provides a strategic framework to enhance trade competitiveness, diversify exports, strengthen priority value chains, and advance capacity-building initiatives aligned with Nigeria’s development priorities.

Areas of collaboration under the partnership include agribusiness modernisation, SME development, trade facilitation, logistics efficiency, digital trade readiness, and regional business missions.

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Edun highlighted the potential for Arab-Africa trade to grow by more than $37 billion over the next three years and emphasised the importance of value-added agribusiness and industrial partnerships for regional growth.

He noted that Nigeria’s expanding industrial base and planned National Single Window reforms will further enhance efficiency and attract private-sector investment.

Adeeb Y. Al Aama described Nigeria as “one of Africa’s most dynamic and resilient economies” with strong potential in agribusiness, energy, manufacturing, and digital industries.

He added that the membership will enable AATB to strengthen value chains, expand regional market access, enhance trade finance, and support Nigeria’s development priorities.

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The AATB Program, supported by institutions including Afreximbank, BADEA, the Islamic Development Bank, ITFC, ICIEC, and ICD, aims to increase trade and investment flows between African and Arab countries, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, transport, petrochemicals, construction materials, and technology.

With Nigeria’s accession, the AATB Program expands its presence in Africa, adding a strategic partner to drive trade-led development and inclusive economic growth.

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ByRuth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.