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Providus Bank has launched its Training to Transaction (T2T) Programme, a new trade-focused initiative aimed at helping African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) move from export preparation into active international transactions.
The bank said the programme is designed to close a long-standing gap in Africa’s trade ecosystem, where many SMEs receive export training but struggle to convert that knowledge into real cross-border business activity.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with Borderless Trade and Investment, Duchess NL, and the Global African Business Association under the ECOWAS Parliament at 25 Programme framework.
Bridging the gap between training and trade execution
According to Providus Bank, the T2T Programme combines export capacity development, regulatory compliance guidance, and direct market access support to help SMEs transition from readiness to measurable trade participation.
The programme is structured to ensure businesses are not only trained in export procedures but also positioned to execute real transactions across multiple international markets.
Speaking at the launch, Head of Global Trade and Structured Finance at Providus Bank, Dr Biodun Ariyo, said banks now play a broader role in regional trade development beyond financing alone.
He noted that financial institutions are increasingly partnering with regional bodies to strengthen trade finance systems and ease cross-border transactions for businesses seeking to expand internationally.
Focus on export-ready sectors
Also commenting, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Providus Bank, Ernest Elue, said the bank’s objective is to support sustainable economic growth by helping businesses move from potential to actual productivity.
He said the programme equips SMEs with the standards, tools, and market access needed to compete effectively in global trade.
The T2T Programme targets high-growth sectors with strong export capacity, including agro-processing, cosmetics, beverages, garment manufacturing, textiles, leather, and tanning.
Participating businesses will receive export readiness support, transaction execution guidance, and structured pathways into markets across Africa, the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The initiative forms part of Providus Bank’s wider strategy to drive trade-led economic expansion by enabling indigenous African businesses to scale beyond domestic markets and integrate into global value chains.
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