Access Holdings Plc is strengthening its role in connecting African and European markets, using the 2026 Paris International Agricultural Show as a platform to deepen trade and investment ties between Nigeria and France.
At the event in Paris, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Group, Innocent C. Ike, formally inaugurated the Nigerian Pavilion, signaling Nigeria’s ambition to expand its agricultural exports and attract cross-border investment.
The ceremony positioned Access Holdings at the center of ongoing conversations around economic integration, trade finance, and value-chain development between Africa and Europe.
Representing Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings and the France–Nigeria Business Council (FNBC), Ike described the pavilion as a statement of intent.
“The Nigerian Pavilion represents readiness — readiness to partner, to invest, and to grow together,” he said, noting that Paris serves as a strategic gateway into Europe, while Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest and fastest-evolving markets.
According to Ike, the presence of Nigerian financial institutions in Europe is critical to improving trade finance access, supporting investment flows, and strengthening cross-border partnerships.
Trade, Agribusiness and SME Expansion
The Paris engagement marks the start of a week-long series of meetings focused on unlocking agricultural investment opportunities, strengthening agribusiness value chains, and enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate more actively in international trade.
As global supply chains continue to shift, financial institutions are increasingly playing a structural role in facilitating cross-continental commerce. Access Bank’s growing international footprint reflects a broader strategy of positioning African businesses within global trade corridors.
A key part of that strategy is the Paris branch of Access Bank UK, established in 2023. The branch provides trade finance, corporate banking, and structured financing solutions aimed at supporting European and African businesses executing cross-border transactions.
Through platforms such as the Nigeria Business Forum and the Spotlight Nigeria Business Forum, Access Holdings has also engaged investors and policymakers in efforts to strengthen capital flows between both regions.
High-Level Participation
The pavilion opening drew senior public and private sector figures, including Jim Ovia, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc; Adaora Umeoji, Managing Director and CEO of Zenith Bank Plc; Umar Dikko Radda, Governor of Katsina State; and Emmanuelle Blatmann, Director of African Affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Their presence reflected growing institutional interest in expanding Nigeria–France commercial cooperation, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure, finance, and industrial development.
The Nigerian Pavilion, backed by the France–Nigeria Business Council and supported by financial institutions including Access Holdings, highlights Nigeria’s renewed push to strengthen its export competitiveness and integrate more fully into global markets.
Africa’s Position in Global Commerce
As Africa seeks to move beyond raw commodity exports toward value-added production and structured trade financing, institutions capable of bridging capital between continents are becoming increasingly central to economic diplomacy.
Access Bank’s participation at the Paris International Agricultural Show underscores its long-term strategy: building financial infrastructure that enables businesses to scale across borders while reinforcing Africa’s relevance in global commerce.