Liberia: Maiden Afreximbank Liberia Trade Roadshow Confab Kicks Off Today

The maiden edition of Oakwood Green Africa Limited (Oakwood Green), in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has kicked off a two-day trade roadshow conference in Monrovia.

It is anticipated that a variety of organizations, including the government, corporate institutions, small businesses, banks, and insurance companies, will participate in the roadshow, which runs from May 16 to 17.

Cynthia Eryuo, Head of Trade Advisory Oakwood Green Africa, who spoke to journalists on Friday in Congo Town ahead of today's event, disclosed that the conference will open the door to the business community of Liberia to be able to enhance trade within itself, between the country and other African countries. 

She averred that one of the highlights of the trade roadshow today will be Afreximbank's funding support for African businesses and institutions, with Oakwood Green playing a critical role as the last mile partner for entities and institutions seeking funding from Afreximbank within the African continent.

The Head of Trade Advisory at Oakwood Green Africa, said the conference will be held under the theme, “Supporting the Intra-Africa Trade Drive: Ensuring the Last Mile”, which aligns with Afreximbank's mission of financing and promoting intra-and-inter-African trade. 

"This conference is what the roadshow is about, and we are calling on all of you to be there. It all seeks to open the door to the business community of Liberia to be able to enhance trade within itself, between the country and other African countries," she said.

Eryuo stated that the trade roadshow will further provide a platform for collaboration and exploration of new investment and trade opportunities for businesses and investors across the continent.

She maintained that the conference is intended to also focus on promoting trade within the African continent, with a specific emphasis on supporting businesses and institutions involved in trade to explore opportunities for trade financing and structuring support.

Eryuo said, "The Last Mile for us is very key and something we reflect on a number of times during the event because especially what we seek to do is bring down all the initiatives and products that the Africa, Export and Import Bank has as an institution to the people of Liberia, and the people of Liberia will need a businesses, banks, all SMEs, as well as all government trade related institutions."

According to her, Afreximbank is a US$ 30 billion multilateral trade finance institution created in 1993 under the auspices of Africa Development Bank and headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, with the mandate of promoting, facilitating, and financing intra-African trade and extra Africa finance trade.

Oakwood Green Africa, she said, is a Pan Africa institution based out of Ghana with strategy investment with a key focus in Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and expanding across Africa. 

Eryuo said at the moment, Oakwood Green Africa is a key strategic partner to the Africa Export and Import Bank along with a number of key initiatives, including the Intra-Africa Trade Fair, the Master Card Diligence Platform, and the Pan Africa Payment and Settlement System.

The organization leverages strategic investments in Corporate Finance, Intra-Africa Trade, Technology, Knowledge Capital, Business Acceleration, and Banking to change the African narrative. Oakwood Green Africa Limited is committed to facilitating greatness across Africa and supporting Afreximbank's intra-Africa trade agenda to the last mile.

Afreximbank is the foremost pan-African multilateral financial institution dedicated to financing and promoting intra-and-inter-African trade. The bank provides financing programs, solutions, and advisory services to support the expansion, diversification, promotion, and development of intra-African trade and trade development projects. The bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry's mandate is to create sound policies for commerce and trade that facilitate private sector growth and innovation while empowering all consumers to make informed decisions, thus improving the quality of life for all. The ministry is committed to revitalizing the Liberian economy, opening up the private sector, and creating job opportunities for the future. The ministry collaborates with entities such as Oakwood Green and Afreximbank to ensure the success of these initiatives.