Ecobank Zambia has gone one step further to show commitment to spearheading the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as it sponsored the eagerly anticipated Land-Linked Conference. The upcoming conference, which is geared towards spearheading intra-African trade and regional integration, will cater to over 600 delegates from 21 African countries and is an actionable platform for consultation, networking, and collaboration across borders.
Addressing a cheque handover ceremony at the bank’s head office in Lusaka on Friday, Ecobank Zambia Head of Trade Fabiano Zulu said the sponsorship is a testament to the bank’s commitment to supporting regional trade and investment. He noted that the conference is a good platform to tap into economic potential along major transport routes such as the Lobito Corridor that cuts across several African countries and is vital in connecting inland nations to global markets.
“The conference will act as a catalyst to release opportunity in the Lobito Corridor and other strategic transport corridors of Africa, instrumental in expanding trade and economic integration,” said Zulu. He added that the Ecobank’s engagement is part of its broader Pan-African vision of constructing innovative financial products, providing liquidity, and facilitating financing of transactions facilitating cross-border trade.”. Its extensive reach across the continent, Ecobank is poised to provide strategic backing to projects that align with AfCFTA goals.
With a presence in eight of the participating countries—Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda—Ecobank’s role in the Land-Linked Conference serves to emphasize its presence and stature in the region. For the bank, the conference represents an event it perceives to be strategic because it brings businesses, governments, and investors together in order for them to tap synergies within infrastructure development, logistics, and facilitation of trade.
Africast Chief Executive Officer Chimwemwe Nyirenda accepted the Ecobank sponsorship and welcomed the growing popularity of the event. He reported that the number of delegates has increased significantly compared to previous year, with 21 countries already confirmed to participate, compared to eight in 2024. More exhibitors have also been drawn into the conference, with 60 organizations already reserved to market their services and products.
Nyirenda underscored the importance of such forums in accelerating economic growth on the continent. He further noted that Land-Linked Conference is not just a forum for high-level discussion but also an ideas market, investment opportunities, and partnerships which can drive infrastructure development and put Africa on a competitive platform in trade.
By sponsoring the conference, Ecobank Zambia not only funds a major regional conference but also establishes itself as an economic development and regional integration driver on the African continent. The intervention by the bank is a demonstration of its support for regional trade corridors and helping achieve AfCFTA’s ambitious targets. As Africa moves towards increased economic integration, initiatives such as the Land-Linked Conference—backed by firm players such as Ecobank—will take center stage in shaping the fate of the business landscape on the continent.
