Nigeria – The Africa Leadership Foundation (ALF), in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced the launch of the third cohort of its Agribusiness Export Readiness Training Programme, a high-impact initiative designed to equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the continent for global agribusiness markets.
The announcement revealed that 175 SMEs drawn from 12 African countries will participate in the new training cohort, with a special focus on East African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The programme, scheduled to begin on July 2, will be delivered through a hybrid format, combining virtual training with in-person sessions in Kampala, Uganda.
According to ALF, the programme is structured to help SMEs tap into international export markets by enhancing their technical knowledge, compliance capabilities, and business competitiveness. It also targets improved participation in intra-African trade under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Trade Gateway (ATG).
Participants are expected to gain access to vital post-training resources, including expert export advisory, access to tailored trade finance opportunities, and guidance on meeting international quality and certification standards.
“We are excited to launch Cohort 3 of the Agribusiness Export Readiness Training. This initiative underscores our unwavering commitment to empowering SMEs to not only access but also excel in regional and global markets, thereby driving sustainable economic growth and development across the African continent,” said Dr. Olumide Ajayi, the Executive Director of ALF.
The training reflects the broader development-focused mission of the Africa Leadership Foundation, a civil society organisation committed to advancing good governance, leadership development, entrepreneurship, digital empowerment, gender equality, and peacebuilding across Africa. As an independent international think-tank, ALF also drives policy dialogue and research on economic development, regional cooperation, strategic affairs, and private sector growth. Meanwhile, Afreximbank, the programme’s strategic partner, continues to fulfil its mandate as a pan-African multilateral financial institution by promoting intra- and extra-African trade through innovative financing solutions that support economic transformation and trade-led growth on the continent.
The Export Readiness Training Programme is part of a growing movement to strengthen the role of African SMEs in shaping the continent’s economic future and establishing competitive export markets rooted in quality, sustainability, and strategic partnerships.
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