HARARE – The Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), a flagship digital platform created by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has facilitated its first-ever cross-border energy trade in Southern Africa: a US$5.3-million gasoil shipment connecting Zimbabwean fuel importer Witeva Trading with a major Swiss commodity supplier.
The landmark transaction highlights how digital platforms are streamlining cross-border commerce across the continent by directly uniting buyers, international suppliers, and financial institutions within a single network.
The multi-party trade brought together key regional and international partners through the ATG digital ecosystem. Zimbabwean fuel distributor Witeva Trading sourced the gasoil shipment from a leading Switzerland-based commodity trader to supply the regional market. Innbucks Microbank Ltd. acted as the local issuing financial institution, recording its first-ever completed deal on the ATG platform. Afreximbank underwrote the agreed structure by providing crucial trade finance confirmation support.
Deal Overview
| Key Detail | Information |
| Transaction Value | US$5.3 Million |
| Commodity | Gasoil (Diesel) |
| Regional Milestone | First ATG energy transaction in Southern Africa |
| Local Institution | Innbucks Microbank Ltd. (First deal via ATG) |
| Pan-African Supporter | Afreximbank (Confirmation support) |
What Leadership Said
“This transaction demonstrates the value of bringing African businesses and financial institutions together through one connected trade ecosystem. By creating a digital ecosystem to expand access to trade finance, Afreximbank is enabling more businesses to participate easily in regional and international trade.”
— Peter Olowononi, Director of Regional Operations (Southern Africa), Afreximbank
“The Africa Trade Gateway is more than a mere digital platform; it is the ecosystem that helps trade happen. We help businesses discover opportunities, connect with trusted buyers, suppliers, and financial institutions, and facilitate the journey from commercial opportunity to completed transactions.”
— Emeka Onyia, Director of Digital Business, Afreximbank
Access to trade finance and verified international counterparties has historically presented a major hurdle for African businesses and regional importers. The ATG platform addresses these challenges by consolidating counterparty verification, commercial discovery, and structured trade finance into a single digital workflow.
As Afreximbank continues deploying its digital trade tools alongside key pan-African initiatives such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), execution of deals like this gasoil trade serves as a practical blueprint for deeper trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
