Situated in the Diplomatic District of the New Capital, approximately 45 kilometres east of Cairo, the facility is designed to position Egypt as a major hub for continental trade. The centre will host technology and SME incubation centres, as well as a digital African trade gateway offering trade information, customer due diligence, and payments, a press release issued by Afreximbank said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that the establishment of the Afreximbank African Trade Centre in Egypt’s New Capital reflects the state’s important role in driving continental economic integration and trade facilitation.
“As the host country of Afreximbank’s global headquarters, Egypt is proud to deepen this collaboration through a landmark facility that will serve as a hub for trade intelligence, capacity building, innovation, and continental connectivity,” Madbouly said.
Afreximbank President and Chairman George Elombi highlighted the bank’s longstanding relationship with Egypt, noting that the country has hosted Afreximbank’s global headquarters for over three decades and is the bank’s largest sovereign shareholder.
Elombi said the new centre will address the lack of trade and investment information among African businesses, a challenge that has historically hindered intra-African trade and investment growth.
“We have disbursed $41 billion into the Egyptian economy to date, supporting strategic sectors including energy, telecommunications, construction, and manufacturing, while strengthening Egypt-Africa trade and investment. This centre is not simply to accommodate the Bank’s expansion but to provide practical solutions for trade facilitation across the continent,” he said.
The AATC in Cairo is part of Afreximbank’s broader vision to develop a network of African Trade Centres in strategic commercial hubs across Africa and the Caribbean. These centres will provide trade information, market intelligence, financing, networking, and collaboration opportunities to accelerate intra-African trade, the bank said.
Occupying a 48,888-square-metre site, the complex will feature two basement levels and six floors, with a total built-up area of 156,147 square metres. Upon completion, it will offer 57,298 square metres of office space for Afreximbank staff, alongside additional space for African and international trade and investment agencies, as well as some foreign African diplomatic missions.
The headquarters will include a trade information centre, a world-class knowledge hub and library, an innovation and SME incubation centre, a business centre, a 750-seat conference facility, exhibition space, retail and dining outlets, a 110-room aparthotel, and a 1,200-bay parking structure.
The design integrates three interconnected blocks around a landscaped internal street, with green courtyards and shaded walkways to encourage interaction, the press release added.
Sustainability is central to the design, which aims for Gold-level LEED certification or higher, incorporating energy-efficient systems, solar power, water-saving technologies, and climate-responsive outdoor spaces. Hassan Allam Construction is the main contractor under a $249.5 million contract, with EHAF Consulting Engineers leading design and supervision, the press release said.
The AATC in Cairo is expected to generate significant employment opportunities and stimulate business for local contractors, suppliers, SMEs, and service providers.
Scheduled for completion in early 2029, it follows similar Afreximbank projects in Barbados, Abuja, Harare, and Kampala. The planned network of African Trade Centres also includes hubs in Abidjan, Yaoundé, Bridgetown, Kigali, and Tunis.
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