The Pan African Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC) convened a meeting of its Executive Committee (ExCo) at the Afreximbank Africa Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja on Wednesday, 25th June 2025.
The meeting, chaired by Professor Pat Utomi, was attended by prominent members including Dr. Amany Asfour, Walid Loukil, Mr. Samuel Dossou-Aworet (represented by Mr. Samuel Ayodele) among others.
PAFTRAC brought together high-level stakeholders to review progress on Africa’s trade and investment priorities and to strengthen collaboration between policymakers and private sector actors within the AfCFTA framework.
A major highlight of the meeting was the presentation of Mr. Mustapha Njie, Group CEO and MD of TAF Africa Global, to the Executive Committee, and his formal induction as a member of PAFTRAC. Mr. Njie brings with him over 45 years of experience investing in the construction, housing, and real estate sectors in several countries.
During the meeting, Mr. Ayodele presented a progress report on the ABR-Innovest Afrika Investor Accelerator – Cohort 3, Ghana—a flagship initiative of Innovest Afrika, hosted in strategic partnership with ABR and supported by PAFTRAC.
This high-impact accelerator programme, focused on early-stage African ventures, attracted over 70 applications. It concluded with a vibrant Investment Summit and Demo Day in Accra, Ghana, where startups pitched their business solutions to a curated audience of local and global investors.
PAFTRAC, originally launched in 2011 and reactivated in 2018 by Afreximbank, continues to serve as the coordinated voice of Africa’s private sector on trade and investment issues. Through its Executive Committee governance structure, PAFTRAC is well-positioned to support platforms that promote entrepreneurship, capacity development, and intra-African trade.
Among these platforms are the ABR Investment Masterclass and the Innovest Afrika Investor Accelerator Programme, which empower early-stage enterprises with investment-readiness tools. Also supported under PAFTRAC’s umbrella is the International Trade Centre’s “How to Export” Training Programme, offering practical guidance to help African SMEs access international markets. The PAFTRAC Annual Trade Policy Seminar serves as a forum for critical dialogue and policy reflection among stakeholders, while the ABC CAMRED Conference on Minerals advances discourse around sustainable mineral development and value addition.
ABR’s active engagement in both PAFTRAC and the Innovest Ignite Accelerator reflects its strong commitment to accelerating sustainable growth across Africa through strategic partnerships and private sector–driven solutions.
As Africa advances further into the implementation phase of the AfCFTA, initiatives like the Innovest Ignite Accelerator provide clear evidence of how collaboration between accelerators, business networks, and trade platforms can deliver tangible results for the continent’s youth, innovators, and SMEs.
Amid evolving trade dynamics and expanding opportunities, ABR and PAFTRAC remain strategic enablers of private sector engagement, policy advocacy, and action-oriented partnerships. The 2025 Executive Meeting reaffirmed PAFTRAC’s mission to drive Africa’s transformation through inclusive trade and investment.