Nairobi, Kenya, 26 October 2026 – Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA) and African Investments Limited (AIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at AFSIC – Investing in Africa 2026 in London. The partnership agreement will connect investment opportunities in Africa’s trade infrastructure and trade finance sectors with potential investors.
The two organisations will develop a Trade Catalyst Africa Deal Book, featuring investment-ready opportunities from TCA’s project pipeline. AIL will then put these projects in front of potential investors, including development finance institutions, institutional investors and other financing partners, through its digital platforms and global investor network.
The agreement comes as African countries seek to increase exports, strengthen regional trade and attract investment into infrastructure that supports the movement of goods. However, many promising trade infrastructure projects struggle to attract financing because they require substantial early-stage preparation and investment before they can become commercially viable.
TCA addresses this challenge by providing early-stage financing and support to develop projects, reduce investment risks and attract additional capital from development finance institutions and private investors.
“Across Africa, there are promising trade infrastructure projects and businesses with real growth potential, but many struggle to attract the investment they need. At TCA, we make these opportunities bankable. This partnership will connect more investment-ready projects with the right investors and bring more capital into the infrastructure and businesses that support Africa’s trade,” said Duncan Onyango, Chief Executive Officer of Trade Catalyst Africa.
The partners will also test artificial intelligence (AI) tools that match infrastructure and trade finance opportunities with suitable investors. Small businesses supported by TCA could use AIL’s platforms to find buyers, suppliers, and partners in Africa and beyond. TCA will also present its pipeline at AFSIC investor meetings and forums.
“Trade infrastructure and trade finance are among the most important, and most under-financed, drivers of Africa’s growth. TCA brings a pipeline of well-prepared, de-risked projects; we bring a network of around 33,000 institutional investors and the platforms to put the right opportunity in front of the right investor. Together, we want to shorten the path from a promising project to a funded one,” noted Rupert McCammon, Managing Director of African Investments Limited.
The partnership reflects both organisations’ interest in increasing investment into Africa’s trade ecosystem. By improving how opportunities are presented and connected to potential financiers, TCA and AIL aim to support more investment in infrastructure and businesses that facilitate trade, increase exports and strengthen African economies.
ENDS
About Trade Catalyst Africa
Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA) is a subsidiary of TradeMark Africa, established in 2022 to mobilise capital for trade infrastructure and expand access to trade finance across Africa.
With initial funding from USAID, TCA invests in projects that strengthen physical and digital trade infrastructure. It takes on early-stage risk and structures projects to attract additional financing from public and private investors.
TCA also provides flexible, lower-cost financing to commercial lenders for on-lending to SMEs in high export-potential sectors such as horticulture and cotton, textiles, and garments (CTG). This helps businesses access the capital they need to grow and participate more effectively in regional and global trade.
Through blended finance, partnerships, and sustainable financing models, TCA is building a pipeline of bankable and investable opportunities. These support more efficient, competitive, and inclusive trade across the continent.
About African Investments Limited
African Investments Limited (AIL) connects investors with private capital opportunities across all 54 African countries. Its African Investments Dashboard (africaninvestments.ai) is a leading platform for private capital raises in Africa, enabling companies and project sponsors to present investment opportunities to a network of around 33,000 institutional investors and to have those opportunities proactively matched and promoted to relevant investors.
AIL also organises AFSIC – Investing in Africa, an annual investment conference in London that brings together more than 1,500 investors and business leaders, alongside country and sector deal books that showcase investment-ready opportunities. Find out more at www.africaninvestments.ai and www.afsic.net.
Media enquiries
Trade Catalyst Africa
Eve Muthoni, Communications Specialist
[email protected]
African Investments Limited
Rupert McCammon, Managing Director
[email protected]
