At the recently concluded 31st African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) meeting in Nassau, Bahamas, FDH Bank emphasized the critical role of digital transactions and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving its growth.

This insight was shared by Deputy Managing Director George Chitera during a panel discussion titled “Unlocking the Opportunities to African Trade and Finance through Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) platform” on Friday.

The ATG platform provides access to several digital tools, including a customer due diligence platform, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) which facilitates intra-African trade payments in national currencies, the Tradar Club network for international businesses promoting growth in Africa, the Africa trade exchange e-commerce platform, and ATG Connect, which offers freight and logistics connectivity solutions.

Chitera highlighted that SME banking has been a central focus for FDH Bank, contributing significantly to its annual growth over the years. "As pioneers of ATG in Malawi, this service represents a significant growth opportunity for our bank.

It enables us to better fulfill our mandate by providing essential services that support and promote African trade and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)," he said.

He further reiterated the bank’s dedication to supporting SMEs and providing advanced digital solutions in response to the rising importance of e-commerce in Malawi and beyond.

"The Bank is committed to supporting SMEs and reaffirms its commitment to delivering cutting-edge digital solutions," Chitera added.

During the discussion, Haytham ElMaayergi, Executive Vice President for Global Trade Bank under Afreximbank, remarked that the introduction of ATG was a strategic move to address Africa’s key challenges, accelerating development and fostering economic prosperity through digital technologies and business models.

"Each of our digital interventions is designed to overcome challenges and barriers to African trade and investment. I commend the hard work of our colleagues and partners in transforming these concepts into reality," ElMaayergi stated.

He noted that the Gateway aims to expedite regional integration, create new market access, and accelerate Africa’s digital economy.

"Customers can complete all their transactions within this single platform," he said, urging individuals across different countries to leverage this opportunity to achieve their ambitions.