Haytham El Maayergi, executive vice president of Afreximbank’s Global Trade Bank, is urging African governments, businesses and financial institutions to fully adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms as tools to unlock the continent’s vast trade and economic potential.
On Thursday, June 26th, 2025, at the Alfhrsing Bank’s Annual Meeting after the 32nd Annual Meeting, Elmaiagi outlines the vision for the future of Africa with AI, data and seamless connections, and encourages Africa’s operations to operate to operate the Gate of Africa. Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA).
“AFCFTA is our vision. AI and digital platforms are our tools. Platforms like ATG are the infrastructure that brings it all together,” he declared. “The question is whether or not the tools exist. The question is bold, collectively and urgently to build the Africa we deserve.”
The Elmagoat contrasted Africa’s fragmented manual trading system with AI-driven advances already ongoing globally.
“DHL uses machine learning to predict delivery delays. Maersk automates port operations. Customs agencies use predictive analytics to detect fraud in real time,” he said. “Africa, meanwhile, faces a $120 billion trade fiscal gap, expensive cross-border payments and outdated customs practices.”
But rather than viewing these as weaknesses, he assembled them as opportunities to jump up and down into the next generation of systems.
“This is not a failure, it’s an opportunity. It’s an open runway to build digital trade architectures from scratch.”
At the heart of Afreximbank’s strategy is the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG). It is a comprehensive interoperable digital platform designed to reduce trade friction and increase connectivity between Africa and the global market.
El Maayergi described ATG as a “digital superhighway” to enable exporters, importers, banks and investors to cooperate more efficiently across borders.
Key components of ATG include the due diligence platform that generates trust and provides unique African Entity Identifiers (AEIs) for MANSA: Business, PAPS:PAPS:PAN-African payment and settlement systems.
“These platforms are not ambitious. They’re growing live and operating AFCFTA directly,” he said.
El Mayaghi highlights evidence of digital transformation in Africa. In Nigeria, small and medium-sized businesses using e-commerce platforms have grown exports by over 30%. In Egypt, AI-enhanced customs automation cuts clearance times by halving, while in Kenya, it uses machine learning to expand trade funding to previously excluded microenterplaise.
“These innovations refer to the same truth. AI and digital technologies are not only digitizing transactions, they are democratizing them.”
He also emphasized that AI can reduce document processing times and eliminate human error.
Flag Compliance takes immediate risks and enables large-scale smart risk underwriting
“This is important in an era when the ship still arrived at the port before it reached the bank before it was cleared up the documents. This will change,” he said.
More specifically, El Maayergi has linked AI to broader goals for financial inclusion and GDP growth.
“AI can empower small businesses, unlock new ventures and introduce informal economies into a more structured, growth-oriented system that will encourage participation in trade, reduce costs, create jobs, and enable sustainable and comprehensive development.”
He highlights Afreximbank’s long-term investments, including its innovation lab, to bring together African data scientists, policymakers and entrepreneurs to co-create African data scientists, policymakers and entrepreneurs, from digital identity systems to e-logistics and SME credit scoring.
Despite technical optimism, El Mayaghi warned that tools alone will not change trade.
“We need infrastructure, such as stable power, broadband access and data centers. We need smart policies, regulatory clarity, innovation incentives. Above all, leadership and partnership.”
He also highlighted the need to ratify and implement the AFCFTA data protocol. This is important for harmonious and secure cross-border data flows.
“Without reliable data, AI cannot function. Digital trades will stall before they can begin,” he warned.
Finally, Elmayagi published to encourage passionate action. “We may have missed the benefits of the Industrial Revolution, but let’s not overlook the digital and AI revolution, as the future exports electrons, not molecules.”
He called on exporters, importers and banks to obtain African Group Identifiers (AEIs) confirmed on the Mantha Platform, describing it as “passports for African trade under the AFCFTA.”
He urged stakeholders to move digitally. Verified, traded and grown through ATG. Bypass the outdated hurdles and turn digital trading into your own edge. You risk taking part in the automation revolution or being left behind. Working with Afreximbank and Afcfta, we will shape Africa’s economic future.
“Let’s get ready. Let’s build. Let’s lead,” El Mayagi concluded. “Together, we are not merely promoting commerce, we are building the next chapter in the African economic story.”
