Pamela Coke-Hamilton

Executive Director of @ITCnews. Here to make big changes through small businesses succeeding in trade. All about transforming trade, changing lives. 🇺🇳

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Marking a milestone in @ITCnews history.

The opening of our first regional office, at UN Office at Nairobi, brings us closer to those we work for – the small businesses, policymakers, institutions driving trade-led growth – so we can better serve them.

To the good work ahead!

[Hon Lee Kinyanjui @GovLeeKinyanjui]

Kenya continues to attract leading international organizations, reaffirming its strategic position as a gateway to Africa. The recent launch of the International Trade Centre (ITC)Regional Office for Africa in Nairobi is a strong testament to this.

Earlier today, I met with Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, the Executive Director of ITC, where we discussed ways to enhance regional trade through the new office. I commended ITC, which has a team of over 300 professionals, for choosing Nairobi as its base, noting that our central location and robust infrastructure make Kenya the ideal hub for engaging with the EAC, COMESA, and the wider continent.

As a Ministry, we look forward to collaborating with ITC on capacity building in trade data, export development, trade agreements, and policy interventions targeting MSMEs. Such partnerships will be instrumental in creating jobs, bridging export gaps, and positioning Kenya as a front-runner in Africa’s trade and investment landscape.

@MITIKenya @ITCnews

[International Trade Centre (ITC) @ITCnews]

🎉Here’s the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and you know what that means!

We’ve officially opened our Nairobi office with @ZainabHawa, Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi, and @SWJacksonUN, UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya.

Learn more: https://t.co/91d5TTRM3u

[Office of the Director-General, UNON @ODG_UNON]

"We see the new ITC office as a decisively positive step towards economic action in a spirit of cooperation, commitment to innovation, increased service delivery and excellence." – says UNON DG @ZainabHawa during the officially opening of the 25th (EAC) (MSMEs) Trade Fair.

[Office of the Director-General, UNON @ODG_UNON]

A historic milestone as UNON welcomes the launch of the first-ever International Trade Centre (ITC) office in Africa, based in Nairobi at the Gigiri Complex.

This new hub will empower and drive sustainable trade development in the country and beyond.

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Touchdown in Nairobi.

Meeting our Kenya-based team ahead of our regional office launch.

Kenya is a cross-section of all we do, from the creative industries to economic empowerment of refugees, agribusiness, value addition, market access.

Here to better serve those we work for.

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Mark of a leader: legacy.

With Prof. Benedict Oramah at the helm of @Afreximbank, together we equipped 10,000+ SMEs to trade under the AfCFTA, strengthened Africa-Caribbean trade, expanded access to finance.

Thank you for your leadership and friendship – to your next chapter!

[African Export-Import Bank - Afreximbank @afreximbank]

“Africa’s journey to self-reliance is unstoppable - because we dared to dream and act together.”

After 31 years of service, I stand before Africa’s leaders, partners, colleagues, and friends to say thank you.

From the day I joined Afreximbank as a young pioneer in 1994, I knew this was more than a job — it was a calling. A calling to turn generations of African aspirations into reality.

When I became President in 2015, I promised that we would be bold — that Afreximbank would no longer just finance trade, but build the foundations that make trade possible.

Together, we did just that.
- We helped make the AfCFTA a living reality.
- We built systems like PAPSS and the Adjustment Fund that now connect African economies.
- We launched the Intra-African Trade Fair and digital platforms like the Africa Trade Gateway.
- We supported industries, from the Dangote Refinery to industrial parks and medical excellence centres across the continent.
- We stood by Africa in crisis — mobilising over $10 billion during COVID-19 to help our nations recover and trade again.
- We grew Afreximbank’s balance sheet nearly eightfold, proving that Africa can build institutions as strong and visionary as any in the world.

This journey has never been about me — it has always been about us, about Africa’s courage to believe in itself.
“We fought on all fronts — and today, we can point to a continent rising on its own terms. The dream lives on.”
​
To our leaders, partners, staff, and my dear family — thank you for walking this path with me.

As I hand over to Dr. George Elombi, I do so with complete confidence. The future of Afreximbank, and of Africa, shines even brighter.

The dream continues — and Africa’s best days are still ahead.
– Prof. Benedict O. Oramah
President and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Afreximbank

#Afreximbank #DecadesOfImpact #LeadershipTransition #GlobalAfrica

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Paying tribute to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at @KenyaMissionUNG.

A “Jamaican Farewell”, one of his favorite songs:

🎵 Sad to say I’m on my way, won’t be back for many a day. 🎵

A pan-Africanist, one of the continent’s most transformative leaders. Your legacy lives on.

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Congratulations on your appointment, @dienekeita, and here's to your continued work to empower women and youth everywhere, for sustainable and inclusive growth.

[Diene Keita @unfpachief]

Honoured to be officially sworn in as @unfpachief by UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres.

Proud to lead an incredible team working tirelessly to uphold the rights, choices and dignity of women and young people, and ensure every person counts.

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Crises become opportunities, through partnerships.

Take sargassum, a seaweed spreading in the Caribbean, hurting the fishing and tourism industries.

With Grenada and the EU, we’re developing the sargassum value chain.

With @pmogrenada and @JozefSikela at Global Gateway.

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

The African Growth and Opportunity Act or AGOA, a cornerstone of US-Africa trade, has expired.

AGOA was about trade, not aid. It has benefitted African exporters and US-based manufacturers.

Read my reflections on the way forward for African economies: https://t.co/eGdJlqhqgS

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Here to raise the perspectives of small island developing states, and all developing countries, in talks about the future of development at #UNGA.

Moving on up – literally, in a lift! – with Minister @kaminajsmith of Jamaica.

[Albert R. Ramdin - OAS Secretary General @SG_OEA_OAS]

I had a productive exchange with Pamela @CokeHamilton, Executive Director of @ITCnews, on regional priorities and strengthening the OAS–ITC partnership to boost investment, create jobs, enhance SME productivity, and support prosperity across the Americas.

[Doreen Bogdan-Martin @ITUSecGen]

My message to youth leadership at #UNGA:
Multilateralism works, but we have to make it work.
As AI-native generations, you're incredibly well-positioned to accelerate the SDGs and shape our digital future.
No generation has ever been so ready—or so capable—to lead.
#YouthLead

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Investment in critical raw materials is key to powering electric vehicles, renewable energy and AI.

Here, Africa needs to see itself as the prize.

Others have to understand there’s a price to pay, and there’s something to be gained from this alliance.

#UNGA

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Looking forward to working together, Minister @P_Sebahizi.

Everything from payments to identification is digital, so it’s a requirement for the new economy.

And it's a priority for small businesses.

[Min of Trade |Rwanda @RwandaTrade]

Minister @P_Sebahizi met with @ITCnews Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton on the sidelines of #IATF2025. They agreed to strengthen collaboration in developing Rwanda’s digital trade ecosystem and scale it across Africa.

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

Congrats to Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, @AfDB_Group President.

Partnerships are key to driving trade-led growth—by Africa, for Africa—through regional integration and value addition.

We at @ITCnews look forward to working closely with you. Thank you, @akin_adesina for our collaboration.

[African Development Bank Group @AfDB_Group]

In his inaugural speech as @AfDBPresident, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah outlined his vision for the Bank and the continent, centered on:
➡️Self-reliance
➡️Empowering youth and women
➡️Stronger partnerships
➡️Unlocking talent & resources

Find out more: https://t.co/VPMB8b9hHP #AFDBTransition

[ 🇫🇷 Pour la version en français ➡️ @BanqueAfriDev]

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

For small businesses, digital connectivity is not a nice-to-have.

Governments must see digital as part of the development framework, just like building roads.

Watch State of Africa on #SMEMinisterial by @aladinstitute and @MastercardFdn, on @cnbcafrica: https://t.co/YqOY6XvUlr

[Pamela Coke-Hamilton @CokeHamilton]

The right conversation at the right time with the right partners at the Caribbean Investment Forum.

With Minister @HillAubyn of Jamaica and EU Ambassador @askoltu.

Blueprint for the region’s trade resilience: Focus on SMEs, value addition, diversification, regional integration.

[United Nations Geneva @UNGeneva]

"The International Day for Women and Girls of #AfricanDescent for the first time recognizes there is a special place and a special experience that women African descent, especially in the diaspora, have and that others don't share."

- Pamela @CokeHamilton, ITC Executive Director