Afreximbank, JBIC sign $300-Million Export Credit Line Agreement to Support Development Projects in Africa

Afreximbank Executive Vice President Dr. George Elombi (Left) shaking hands with Nobumitsu Hayashi, Deputy Governor, JBIC, following signing of the line of credit agreement

Cairo, 4 June 2019: – The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed a general agreement for a $300-million export credit line, which can be availed in US dollars and euros, to support projects in Afreximbank member states.

The credit line, signed in Cairo on 31 May, will enable Afreximbank to provide funds for the import of machinery and equipment from Japanese companies and their overseas affiliates to support projects in the Bank’s 51 member countries in Africa.

Demand for machinery and equipment, which are needed for economic development, is expected to continue to expand in Africa and the credit line will support the efforts of Japanese companies and their overseas affiliates to expand exports to the Africa region. It will also help to further strengthen the economic relationship between Japan and Africa.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dr. George Elombi, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President for Governance, Legal and Corporate Services, said that the facility fully aligned with the Bank’s strategy and mandate to support quality growth throughout the continent.

“Through this forged strategic partnership and its shared objectives, we are confident that this relationship will promote Japan-Africa economic cooperation,” he added.

Afreximbank Executive Vice President Dr. George Elombi (sitting Left) next to Nobumitsu Hayashi, Deputy Governor, JBIC, in group photo following the signing with: standing (L-R) Kana Sato, Researcher (JBIC), Chandi Mwenebungu, Director of Treasury, Afreximbank, Irfan Afzal, Director, Syndications & Agencies, Afreximbank, Samallie Kiyingi, Director, Legal Services, Afreximbank, Naoki Takahashi, Director, Mining & Metals Finance, JBIC, Kofi Asumadu Addo and Melanie Lawrence of Guarantees & Specialized Finance, Afreximbank, Shunsuke Oka, Deputy Director, Mining & Metals Finance, JBIC and Yuji Nakada, JBIC Dubai Representative

Also speaking, Nobumitsu Hayashi, Deputy Governor of JBIC, said that Africa was a land of opportunities with its diverse cultures and wealth. He added that JBIC had found in Afreximbank a valuable, strong and credible partner to help it with its mission to grow its level of activity in Africa in line with the broader Japan-Africa initiatives being driven by the Japanese government.

JBIC is a Japanese public financial institution and export credit agency created on 1 October 1999 through the merger of the Japan Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Economic Cooperation.

Afreximbank Executive Vice President Dr. George Elombi (sitting Left) next to Nobumitsu Hayashi, Deputy Governor, JBIC, in group photo with the Afreximbank and JBIC delegations.

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Media Contact: Manal Mounir (mmounir@afreximbank.com; Tel. +202-2456-4178)

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About Afreximbank: The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is the foremost pan-African multilateral financial institution devoted to financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade. The Bank was established in October 1993 by African governments, African private and institutional investors, and non-African investors. Its two basic constitutive documents are the Establishment Agreement, which gives it the status of an international organization, and the Charter, which governs its corporate structure and operations. Since 1994, it has approved more than $67 billion in credit facilities for African businesses, including $7.2 billion in 2018. Afreximbank had total assets of $13.4 billion as at 31 December 2018. It is rated BBB+ (GCR), Baa1 (Moody’s), and BBB- (Fitch). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo. For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com