AFRICA – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$175 million Trade Finance Funded Risk Participation Agreement facility between the African Development Bank and Trade & Development Bank (TDB).
The agreement is expected to boost intra-Africa trade, promote regional integration, and reduce the trade finance gap in Africa.
The Bank will provide liquidity of up to 50% (the other 50% to be matched by TDB) to Issuing Banks on a risk share basis to support trade activities of local corporates and SMEs in member countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Together, the two institutions will provide a ticket size of US$350 million to support trade transactions. This is a strategic effort by the AfDB to support the Africa Continental Free Trade Area’s agenda of reshaping markets and economies across the region by helping to boost output in the services, trade, manufacturing, and natural resources sectors.
“We are excited about finalizing this facility with TDB which will aid TDB in scaling-up its trade finance offerings across the COMESA region and help meet the ever-increasing trade finance gap,” the Bank’s Director for Financial Sector Development, Stefan Nalletamby said.
“Specifically, it will allow TDB to play a significant role in providing funding necessary for the post COVID-19 economic recovery of its member countries.
“This partnership is expected to catalyze more than US$2.1 billion in value of trade finance transactions across multi-sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and energy over the next 3 years.”
AfDB estimates Africa’s annual trade finance gap to be around $81 billion. Compared to multinational and large local corporates, SMEs and other domestic firms have greater difficulty accessing trade finance.
“The advent of COVID-19 coupled with stringent regulatory/capital requirements and KYC compliance enforcement, has seen many global banks reduce their correspondent banking relationships in Africa, while some are exiting the market altogether,” the Director General of the Bank’s Eastern Africa region, Nwabufo Nnenna said.
“There is, therefore, an urgent need for focused financing to reenergize Africa’s trade, particularly in low-income countries and transition states, which require more participation of institutions like the African Development Bank.”
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