FirstBank has reiterated its commitment to the development and economic transformation of the African continent, and is unwavering as it continues to make the required investments to actualize the goal.
Chief Executive Officer of the FirstBank group, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, disclosed this while speaking at the Africa International Trade Exhibition (A.I.T.E 2023), held recently at the Hilton Hotel Midtown, New York, U.S.A.
The event, sponsored by FirstBank was themed “The Imperatives of Global Trade for African SMEs as a Game Changer for the continent’s future prosperity”.
Speaking on the theme, Dr. Adeduntan said he was particularly delighted that the theme beams the spotlight on a sector that can be referred to as the bedrock of Africa’s economic prosperity.
According to him, Africa’s SME sector is also a good representation of the unyielding and resilient spirit of the African people in the face of many daunting challenges.
“I make bold to say that, in FirstBank, Africa has a dependable ally. Indeed, it is the turn of Africa to rise, and FirstBank is strategically positioned to provide the required financial services support to the SME sector that will catalyze the next phase of Africa’s growth and development,” he concluded.
Tunde MacAlabi, Visioner of the African International Trade Exhibition project said “The AITE project is conceived to assist African SMEs to gain greater penetration in the North American market that has huge potential.
“Our effort is a complementary private sector-driven initiative to help bridge the commercial gap to increase the commercial engagement between Nigeria, Africa and the USA.
Representing Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, President & Chairman, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Mrs Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) said “I am grateful to the African International Trade Exhibition (AITE) for the kind opportunity to participate in this event.
