Inauguration of the Africa Bangladesh Business Forum – A B2B Platform in Guinea
The Africa Bangladesh Business Forum (ABBF) is a collaborative B2B trade and investment platform inaugurated in the Republic of Guinea on 04 June 2024, marking a significant milestone in strengthening economic cooperation between Africa and Bangladesh.
The inauguration ceremony was held at Hotel Kaloum in Conakry, in the presence of local partners, representatives from the Government of Guinea, members of the Bangladeshi business community, and investors operating in the country. The event reflected a shared commitment to building a structured, trusted, and sustainable platform for cross-border trade and investment.
About the Africa Bangladesh Business Forum
The ABBF was established to bridge businesses, investors, and institutions across Africa and Bangladesh through a trusted B2B engagement framework. The forum serves as a catalyst for trade facilitation, market access, investment promotion, and long-term partnerships.
ABBF is designed to address common challenges faced by exporters and importers, including market entry barriers, lack of reliable partners, compliance complexities, logistics coordination, and access to accurate market intelligence.
By combining on-ground presence in Africa with strong linkages to Bangladeshi exporters, the forum provides a practical, business-driven approach to bilateral and multilateral trade development.
Objectives of the Africa Bangladesh Business Forum
The primary objectives of the Africa Bangladesh Business Forum include:
- Promoting Bangladeshi exports across African markets
- Facilitating the import of African goods into Bangladesh
- Building trust and confidence through verified business engagement
- Connecting businesses through online and offline B2B platforms
- Organizing trade shows, exhibitions, and business missions
- Promoting opportunities under Public–Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks
- Providing investment advisory and project management consultancy
- Supporting end-to-end business processes to reduce trade risks and uncertainty
ABBF’s Role in Trade Facilitation
The Africa Bangladesh Business Forum works closely with exporters, importers, investors, and institutional stakeholders to improve the overall trade ecosystem. By offering structured matchmaking, compliance support, logistics coordination, and local market access, ABBF helps businesses reduce costs, mitigate risks, and accelerate deal execution.
Several Guinean companies have already joined the forum, reflecting growing interest in sourcing products from Bangladesh and exploring joint ventures. In parallel, Bangladeshi businesses benefit from local insights, verified partnerships, and market-specific guidance when entering African markets.
Africa Bangladesh Business Forum & Pan-African Vision
While the platform was inaugurated in Guinea, its vision extends far beyond a single country. The forum plans to expand operations gradually across all 54 African countries, creating a continent-wide network that supports trade, investment, and industrial collaboration between Africa and Bangladesh.
This long-term vision aligns with Africa’s growing role in global trade and Bangladesh’s expanding export capabilities across sectors such as manufacturing, textiles, agro-processing, construction materials, ICT, and consumer goods.
ABBF – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the purpose of the initiative in Guinea?
The Africa Bangladesh Business Forum was launched to promote structured trade and investment between Africa and Bangladesh by connecting exporters, importers, and investors through a reliable B2B platform.
Q2. How does ABBF support Bangladeshi exporters in Africa?
ABBF supports Bangladeshi exporters by organizing trade events, connecting them with verified African buyers, and providing end-to-end assistance in logistics, compliance, and local market access.
Q3. Can African businesses join the forum?
Yes. African businesses can join ABBF and become members to source products from Bangladesh, explore partnerships, participate in joint ventures, and access new trade and investment opportunities.
Q4. What countries are covered by ABBF’s operations?
ABBF was inaugurated in Guinea and plans to expand its operations across all 54 African countries, enabling continent-wide B2B collaboration.
Q5. Does ABBF assist with investment and project consultancy?
Yes. The community provides investment guidance, public-private partnership facilitation, and project management consultancy to help businesses navigate complex cross-border initiatives successfully.
Conclusion
The inauguration of the Africa Bangladesh Business Forum represents a strategic step toward building stronger economic ties between Africa and Bangladesh. By combining trust, structure, and on-ground presence, ABBF aims to simplify cross-border trade, unlock investment opportunities, and foster long-term business partnerships across both regions. Businesses can participate through membership programs and trade events organized by ABBF.