LONDON, United Kingdom — Abel Ago, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of LELEADER GROUP, will represent the conglomerate at the International Trade Council Global Convocation & Leadership Forum in London. The three-day event, running from 26 to 28 November 2026, brings together trade officials and business leaders to address global supply chain resilience, market access, and sustainable export growth.
Established in 2014 as an import-export enterprise, LELEADER GROUP has grown over the past decade into a diversified conglomerate operating seven subsidiaries across four countries. The group specialises in bridging the strategic China–Africa trade corridor, maintaining offices and operations in Cotonou, Shanghai, Kinshasa, and Sandton, alongside distribution networks in Namibia. This footprint positions the company as an important facilitator of cross-border commerce, linking manufacturing and industrial capacity in Asia with expanding markets across West, Central, and Southern Africa.
A central pillar of the group’s trade facilitation model is the Leleader Industrial Park in Togoudo, Benin, which spans 85,690 square metres of production and storage facilities. Alongside physical infrastructure, the group has integrated technology into traditional supply chains through LeleaderShop, a B2B e-commerce platform in Benin dedicated to the wholesale distribution of construction materials, tiles, and plumbing supplies. The integration of physical hubs and digital trade platforms represents a practical approach to overcoming logistics and distribution barriers in emerging markets.
At the London forum, LELEADER GROUP aims to advocate for logistics investment in Africa and discuss the integration of trade finance and supply chain operations. Having been nominated for the Go Global Awards in 2025, the company’s participation highlights the growing role of African-led enterprises in shaping global trade corridors and fostering resilient international partnerships.
“Sustaining growth across the China–Africa trade corridor requires more than simply moving goods; it demands the synchronisation of logistics, digital platforms, and accessible trade finance. For many emerging businesses in West Africa, the primary barrier to international expansion is not a lack of market demand, but the structural challenge of securing capital without traditional guarantees. At LELEADER GROUP, we have focused on building physical hubs, such as our industrial park in Benin, and digital platforms like LeleaderShop, to provide the practical infrastructure that reduces these friction points.
“By participating in the Global Convocation in London, we intend to share our operational insights on cross-border supply chains and collaborate on strategies that improve market access. Establishing transparent, reliable trade routes between African hubs and global manufacturing centres is essential for long-term economic integration.”
The forum provides a timely platform to discuss these challenges as global supply chains face ongoing restructuring. Abel Ago’s unique experience—spanning his early entrepreneurial ventures in Benin to his academic and commercial work in the Chinese port city of Ningbo, where he was named an honorary citizen—offers practical lessons in managing complex, cross-continental operations.
About LELEADER GROUP
LELEADER GROUP is a diversified African conglomerate founded in 2014 that connects African markets with global supply chains. Headquartered in Cotonou, Benin, the group operates seven subsidiaries across four countries. Through shipping, logistics, trading, and B2B e-commerce subsidiaries, the group develops practical business platforms, manages the Leleader Industrial Park, and supports sustainable economic development.
About the International Trade Council Global Convocation & Leadership Forum
The International Trade Council Global Convocation & Leadership Forum is an elite gathering of senior business executives, trade officials, and policymakers held across various venues in London, United Kingdom. The three-day programme is designed to foster collaborative dialogue on advancing international trade, enhancing supply chain resilience, and promoting export growth. The event is jointly convened by the International Trade Council and the International Centre for Trade Transparency & Monitoring.
About the International Trade Council
The International Trade Council is an independent, non-lobbying peak-body chamber of commerce established in 1956 to support international trade and foreign direct investment. With a global network spanning more than 179 countries, the Council serves over 28,000 members, including businesses, government ministries, diplomatic missions, and trade associations. It focuses on reducing trade barriers, encouraging sustainable economic growth, and providing educational programmes through the ITC Academy.
About the International Centre for Trade Transparency and Monitoring
The International Centre for Trade Transparency Limited, trading as the International Centre for Trade Transparency and Monitoring (ICTTM), is a commercial spin-off of the International Trade Council. Founded in November 2022, the UK-registered company operates offices in the United Kingdom and the Philippines to increase global trade transparency. Its proprietary ADAMftd platform uses artificial intelligence and billions of historical and real-time trade data points to assist organisations with supply chain modelling, counterparty risk assessment, and market trend forecasting.
Media Contact
Abel Ago. Chief Executive Officer. LELEADER GROUP. contact@leleadergroup.com. https://leleadergroup.com
