Access Bank Honored as ‘Best Trade Partner Bank West Africa’ by IFC
Access Bank has been recognized as the ‘Best Trade Partner Bank West Africa 2024’ by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The prestigious award was presented at the Global Trade Partners Meeting (GTPM) held in Barcelona, Spain, underscoring Access Bank’s exceptional performance and dedication to advancing trade finance across the continent.
Organized by the IFC, the GTPM stands as a significant event in the global trade finance industry, distinguished by IFC’s extensive reach and client base in emerging markets. The 2024 edition commemorated the 20th anniversary of IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program and drew a record number of delegates, featuring renowned speakers and panelists who provided invaluable insights into the global trade landscape.
Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director, African Subsidiaries at Access Bank, expressed gratitude for the award, stating, “We are honored to receive this recognition from the IFC, which underscores our relentless efforts to leverage our extensive network across Africa to enhance trade opportunities between the continent and the rest of the world. Access Bank remains steadfast in facilitating trade that propels economic growth and prosperity for our stakeholders and the regions we serve.”
Representatives from Access Bank, including Sunmbo Olatunji, Group Head, Treasury; Tosin Olatunji, Group Head, Corporate Operations; Seun Olufeko, Group Head Project and Structured Finance, Corporate and Investment Banking Division (CIBD); Oluchukwu Kalu, Team Member PSF, CIBD; and Rowly Isioro, Head, Trade and Global Transaction Banking (Africa), participated in the GTPM. Isioro also contributed to a panel discussion titled ‘IFC: 20 Years in Trade, Partnerships and Perspectives.’
During the panel, Isioro emphasized the importance of building resilient trade finance systems in emerging markets and highlighted the evolution of the IFC Global Trade Finance Program. He emphasized Access Bank’s dedication to developing innovative solutions to address the unique challenges faced by African businesses and reiterated the bank’s commitment to strengthening trade finance infrastructure to facilitate smoother trade flows and empower clients to seize global opportunities effectively.
The GTPM Barcelona 2024 featured a comprehensive three-day program with contributions from internationally renowned speakers such as Marc Auboin from the World Trade Organization, Alexia Boutin-Somnolet from Marsh, Gonzalo Gortázar, CEO of CaixaBank Spain, and representatives from the IFC including Nathalie Louat and Paolo Mauro. The event, sponsored by Access Bank and CaixaBank, concluded with a Gala Awards Dinner celebrating the 20th anniversary of IFC’s Global Trade Finance Programme and honoring its high-performing trade finance partners.
