The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Zep-Re (PTA Reinsurance Company) have unveiled the Trans-Africa Bond Alliance (TABA), a groundbreaking initiative poised to reshape Africa’s trade landscape by addressing the continent’s insurance capacity gaps and enabling smoother cross-border trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Launched today in Nairobi, TABA is designed to empower African contractors and traders by introducing innovative transit guarantee mechanisms such as Transit Bonds, Performance Bonds, and Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCs).
These instruments will provide businesses with enhanced security and predictability in moving goods across borders while ensuring customs compliance and reducing procedural bottlenecks.
Africa’s 110 international borders and 16 landlocked nations have long faced logistical and regulatory hurdles that inflate the cost of trade—sometimes beyond the value of the goods themselves.
With TABA, traders will be able to transport goods from Cape Town to Cairo using a single transit bond, significantly cutting down on time, costs, and red tape.
“This is a transformative moment,” said Denys Denya, Senior Executive Vice President of Afreximbank. “At a time when global cooperation is fraying, TABA builds bridges—not walls—across Africa, strengthening the wheels of trade and investment.”
The alliance builds on the decades-long experience of Afreximbank and Zep-Re in trade finance and insurance. Since 1993, Afreximbank has championed intra-African trade through financing and policy development, while Zep-Re has emerged as a leading force in reinsurance solutions that support regional trade.
Hope Murera, CEO of Zep-Re, hailed the alliance as “a new era” for Africa. “TABA is not just about removing obstacles; it’s about building bridges of opportunity. Our goal is to support a connected Africa where goods, services, and investments move freely and efficiently.”
H.E. Veronica M. Nduva, Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), expressed strong support for TABA. “This alliance complements our customs union and common market goals. It will simplify trade regimes, lower costs, and stimulate economic growth across the region,” she said.
TABA introduces a streamlined approach to trade facilitation that will enhance trade efficiency by eliminating delays caused by multiple national bond requirements.
It is expected to boost investor confidence through a structured and transparent customs guarantee system, reduce trade costs to make African exports more globally competitive, ensure compliance with customs regulations, and expand market opportunities for African businesses by enabling smoother cross-border trade.
Following the launch, Afreximbank and Zep-Re will initiate B2B engagements and marketplace forums to discuss the practical rollout of TABA. A continent-wide awareness campaign is also in the pipeline to educate businesses and financial institutions on how to leverage the alliance for growth.
As Africa pushes ahead with AfCFTA’s vision of a unified market, TABA is set to become a vital enabler—turning policy into practice and ambition into action.
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