Linkages and Partnerships

CANEX Presents AFRICA

CANEX Presents Africa, is an Afreximbank initiative that provides a platform for the development of emerging fashion designers, by supporting the transfer of skills through mentorship from industry experts, while providing market access opportunities, for sales promotion, production and distribution. This initiative aims to equip participants with the skills that enable them to create financially sustainable businesses with the potential to scale, as well as provide support with go-to-market and internationalisation strategies. It is designed to support a generation of entry to mid-level talent, through a customised approach, to up-skill and provide individual support for the development and recognition of talent

CANEX Presents Africa at Portugal Fashion

In June 2021, Afreximbank entered a three-year partnership with ANJE (National Association of Young Entrepreneurs’), to support and promote Africa’s Fashion Apparel and Textile Manufacturing Industry in Portugal and across Europe.  The partnership is designed to promote African  designers at Portugal Fashion, with the ultimate  objective to access key international markets.   Designers benefit from networking opportunities  with international industry experts, retailers, press  and manufacturers.  To date 80 brands from Africa and diaspora have  benefited from this initiative. 

CANEX Presents Africa Tranoï

Paris Fashion Week

Since 2022, the Bank’s collaboration with Tranoï as part of the CANEX Presents Africa access to market initiative, facilitating the participation of 28 African designers at Paris Fashion Week, leading to the successful launch of their brands by renowned retailers across various countries, including UAE, Japan, France, Germany, and the USA.   A consistent presence of African brands at Tranoī tradeshow has shifted the perceptions of global fashion stakeholders such as Fashion buyers and the Fashion media, resulting in increased orders placed by Retail buyers and features written about CANEX and participating designers in global fashion media publications such as Vogue and WWD publications  The global fashion is extremely competitive, therefore the collective approach in showcasing at this tradeshow presents a coherent and powerful narrative about products Made in AfricaSeptember 2024 will see the first CANEX Runway show at Paris Fashion week that will be featured in the official event calendar

Pan African Fashion Alliance

Financing SME creative enterprises is challenging due to the fragmented nature of the sector. However, we believe that to effectively support the sector, it must be formalised and consolidated.   In partnership with International Trade Centre and fashion designers from across the continent, the Bank is supporting the establishment of the Pan-African Fashion Alliance, which is a fashion cooperative, through which the Bank and other financial institutions can more effectively deliver interventions to this sector: PAFA interventions will include the following:  • Facilitate access to affordable financing and credit, • Access to business development and marketing support • Access to reliable manufacturing facilities • Facilitate collective purchasing of raw materials • Collective access to high value markets • Promotion of ethical African fashion globallyA market feasibility and assessment study was concluded with the launch expected in October

One Drum Album Collaboration

Born out of President Oramah’s visit to Salvador do Bahia and meeting iconic Brazilian troupe, Olodum interested in collaborating with musicians on the Continent – Transatlantic linkages through the influence/heritage of the drums   Part of intra-African trade and building greater synergies and export development opportunities between Africa and the Diaspora To facilitate music collaborations of Global Africa’s artists (Caribbean, Brazil, USA and Europe) as celebration of African historical and contemporary excellence  Co-produced by Oscar ‘Oskido’ Mdlongwa and Commissioner Gordon Williams  6-track album with: Olodum (Brazil), Flavour (Nigeria), Scorpion Kings (South Africa), Sofiya Nzau (Kenya), Stephen Marley (Jamaica), Lauryn Hill (USA/Haiti) ‘We are Africa song’ combining artists Five visual artists designing album visuals and merchandize: Jamaica, South Africa, Malawi and GhanaVideo documentary of behind the scenes of the project and wealth of the diaspora heritage to be pitched to Netflix   Rollout and launch to be held with listening parties, possible launch in Brazil

CANEX Sports

Africa’s sports industry: immense economic growth potential if properly harnessed. Global sports ecosystem expected to grow by USD 12 billion by 2027 (Oliver Wyman, 2021) but still low investments in the sector in Africa. In this context, Afreximbank’s CCI Strategy highlights sports development as a priority focus area for intervention.Basketball Africa League (BAL): strategic partnership 2024 season with top 12 African teams reaching over 1.6 million live viewersSuccess of the Nile Conference game: May 26 between defending champion Al Ahly (Egypt) and first-time BAL participant Al Ahly Ly (Libya) the most-watched game this season on the BAL’s YouTube channel with 125,000 unique viewersCollaboration with the CAF and RAF to commercialize and monetize Africa’s football value chainE1 Sports: world’s first all-electric powerboat races with marine preservation objectivesMade-in-Africa Sports Apparel Brand: conceptualisation stages of a sports apparel brand to supply CAF and BAL teamsImportance of stronger participation in sports value chain: events, talent development, retail, broadcasting…