Breeze launches platform to revolutionise African trade, finance | The Guardian Nigeria News

Breeze, a platform poised to redefine how African businesses engage in global trade and finance has launched its platform.

Leveraging advanced technology and innovative solutions, the company aims to address inefficiencies in trade processes, bridge trust gaps, and expand access to much-needed financial resources.

At the heart of Breeze’s offering is a digital overhaul of the Letter of Credit (LC) process, a longstanding tool used to guarantee payments in international trade. Traditionally plagued by paperwork, delays, and errors, the LC system has often been a stumbling block for African businesses seeking to operate on a global scale.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Breeze, Chimenem Nnwoka, said “Letters of Credit have been foundational to global trade since the Renaissance, yet their workflows remain archaic. With our platform, what used to take weeks can now be completed in 24 hours. This not only brings speed but also ensures security and transparency, enabling African businesses to compete effectively in the global market.”

Africa currently faces a $120 billion trade finance deficit, which has significantly limited the ability of businesses to expand operations and seize larger opportunities. Breeze’s digitised approach simplifies access to uncollateralised credit lines of up to $50 million, a move that could unlock growth for countless enterprises across the continent.

In addition to transforming the LC process, Breeze is introducing a unified trade network that integrates modernised workflows and digital trade documents, including the electronic Bill of Lading (eBL). This interconnected system is designed to build trust among merchants, financial institutions, and service providers, making cross-border trade more seamless.

The company has already established partnerships with financial institutions across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa, laying the groundwork for rapid expansion. “Our goal is to create an inclusive ecosystem where businesses of all sizes can access global markets,” Nnwoka said.

Breeze is also tackling some of Africa’s unique trade challenges, such as currency volatility and limited financial inclusion.
The platform offers tailored hedging tools to mitigate currency risks, as well as financial instruments designed to lower barriers to trade. For smaller businesses, this means faster financing and reliable payment guarantees, while larger enterprises can benefit from increased efficiency and transparency in large-scale transactions.

The company’s ambitions are rooted in a broader vision of a connected and prosperous Africa.

“We’re not just digitising processes. We’re reimagining what trade can be for this continent. With modern technology, we can make global commerce faster, more transparent, and accessible to everyone,” she said.

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