East Africa is emerging as a strategic bridge between Africa and global markets as geopolitical tensions, changing supply chains and the search for more resilient trade routes reshape the global economy, according to Absa Bank Tanzania Corporate Banking Director, Ms. Nellyana Mmanyi.
Ms.
Nellyana said the changing global trade environment presents Africa with a
significant opportunity to strengthen its position not only as a source of
commodities and a growing consumer market, but also as a production base and
strategic connector between major global markets.
She
made the remarks during the GTR East Africa 2026 conference,
held in Nairobi, Kenya, recently, where policymakers, financial institutions,
corporates, investors and other stakeholders from the trade, commodity,
supply-chain, infrastructure and export-finance sectors gathered to discuss the
future of regional trade.
Her
presentation comes at a time when global companies are increasingly rethinking
how and where they source goods, manufacture products and move them across
borders.
According
to Ms. Nellyana, geopolitical developments are prompting businesses to
diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on individual countries, creating
new opportunities for regions capable of offering reliable production,
infrastructure and access to markets.
“For
Africa, this is not just disruption; it is a strategic opening, I argued that
East Africa is particularly well placed to benefit from this shift because of
its geographical position, expanding markets, growing regional integration and
connections to the Middle East and Asia,” Ms. Nellyana said.
For
Tanzania, the opportunity is closely linked to the country’s position as a
gateway to some of Africa’s fastest-growing and strategically important
markets.
Nellyana
identified the Port of Dar es Salaam as a critical regional
entry and exit point, supporting trade not only for Tanzania but also for
landlocked economies including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia,
Uganda and Rwanda.
The
importance of Dar es Salaam is reinforced by ongoing investments in transport
corridors connecting the port with markets across the region.
“The
Port of Dar es Salaam, for example, is a critical entry point supporting
landlocked markets such as the DRC, Zambia, Uganda and Rwanda,” she said.
The
Central Corridor, which links Tanzania’s port infrastructure
with markets in the interior of East and Central Africa, therefore has the
potential to become an increasingly important artery for regional trade.
Kenya’s
Northern Corridor plays a complementary role, strengthening East Africa’s
position as a network of interconnected trade routes rather than a collection
of isolated national markets.
Absa’s
own analysis of GTR East Africa 2026 highlights the importance of resilient
supply chains, regional supply-chain finance and infrastructure investment in
strengthening the region’s trade position.
However,
Mmanyi cautioned that Africa will not automatically benefit from the
transformation taking place in global trade.
Businesses
across the continent continue to face significant challenges when attempting to
move goods across borders, including inefficient logistics, customs delays,
regulatory fragmentation, non-tariff barriers, inconsistent policies and high
inland transportation costs.
Infrastructure
bottlenecks also remain a concern, particularly where port congestion,
inefficient rail systems, poor road networks and inadequate connectivity
increase the cost and time required to move goods.
For
smaller businesses, the challenges can be even greater because limited access
to working capital and trade finance can prevent them from taking advantage of
opportunities in neighbouring markets.
“There
is demand for their goods, but they struggle with execution across borders,” Nellyana
said.
She
also stressed the importance of moving the African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA) from policy commitments to practical
implementation, including reducing non-tariff barriers and making it easier for
businesses to trade across African borders.
As
trade corridors become more complex, Nellyana said banks have an important role
to play in helping businesses manage the risks and financial requirements
associated with cross-border commerce.
She
said traditional banking products alone would no longer be sufficient as
businesses increasingly require integrated solutions covering trade finance,
foreign exchange, working capital and market expertise.
“At
Absa, we are seeing growing demand from corporates for integrated cross-border
banking support that combines trade finance, foreign exchange solutions and
regional market expertise,” she said.
According
to her, businesses are increasingly looking for financial partners who can help
them navigate the entire trade journey—from sourcing and production to
transportation, payment and entry into new markets.
This
means banks need to move beyond conventional products such as letters of credit
and overdraft facilities and develop more flexible and structured trade-finance
solutions.
“Speed
as a differentiator is critical. Ultimately, the bank that moves fastest wins
the client,” Ms. Nellyana said.
Ms.
Nellyana identified five key priorities that will determine whether Africa can
convert the changing global trade environment into sustainable economic growth.
First
is the effective implementation of the AfCFTA and the removal of barriers that
continue to make intra-African trade costly and complicated.
Second
is infrastructure development, particularly ports, railways and energy.
Investments must, she said, translate into faster and more efficient movement
of goods rather than simply increasing physical capacity.
Third
is closing the trade-finance gap and improving access to capital for SMEs and
mid-sized companies seeking to expand across borders.
Fourth
is accelerating industrialisation by moving away from exporting predominantly
raw materials towards value-added production and stronger regional supply
chains.
The
fifth is greater coordination between governments, banks and the private sector
to create consistent policies, strengthen investor confidence and support
long-term investment.
For
Tanzania, the emerging trade environment presents a significant opportunity to
strengthen its role as a regional production, logistics and distribution hub.
The
combination of the Port of Dar es Salaam, the Central Corridor, access to
landlocked neighbouring countries and Tanzania’s position along the Indian
Ocean gives the country a strategic platform from which businesses can access
wider African and international markets.
But
Nellyana stressed that infrastructure alone would not be enough.
Africa
must combine physical connectivity with efficient customs systems, predictable
regulations, access to finance and strong regional supply chains if it is to
compete effectively in the changing global economy.
“Africa,
East Africa in particular, has a remarkable opportunity to position itself in
global trade, not only in terms of its excellent existing market, but as a
connector and a production hub,” she said.
She
cautioned that the window of opportunity created by the restructuring of global
trade would not remain open indefinitely.
“Success
won’t be automatic. It will depend on the speed of execution, access to capital
and the ability of banking institutions to actively enable clients across the
trade value chain. The opportunity is real, but it won’t wait.”
As a Gold Sponsor of GTR East Africa 2026, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking reaffirmed its commitment to supporting trade, investment and economic growth across the region. The conference was positioned as a key forum for examining trade resilience, supply-chain finance, infrastructure financing and new opportunities arising from Africa’s evolving role in global commerce.