Afreximbank has committed US$10 million to Azania Bank of Tanzania in a new facility aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country’s export value chains. The agreement forms part of the Bank’s Export SME Development Programme (ESDP).
Azania Bank will use the funds to give eligible SMEs working capital and medium-term financing. This money can be used for business expansion, buying assets and covering costs before and after export. The goal is to boost productivity and help SMEs take part in regional and global value chains. It should also help close financing gaps that have held back many small businesses.
How the Money Will Be Used
Azania Bank will pass the funds on to SMEs working in export-related sectors. These include agriculture, manufacturing, trade, technology, logistics and value-added exports. The facility should help the bank meet the growing financing needs of SMEs, which play a big role in Tanzania’s industrialisation and trade plans.
The initiative is also expected to create jobs, improve export readiness and strengthen Tanzania’s place in regional value chains. It should help SMEs benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by making it easier for them to take part in cross-border trade and regional supply networks.
Beyond the financing, Afreximbank will offer SMEs extra support. This includes export readiness training, advice on financial management, help finding new markets, support with digitalisation, and access to knowledge and networking platforms built for SMEs. These are meant to make businesses stronger, more competitive and better able to grow over time.
Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director for Export Development at Afreximbank, said SMEs are central to Africa’s economy. “SMEs are the backbone of Africa’s productive economy and are critical to driving industrialisation, value addition and trade-led growth,” she said. She added that many businesses still struggle to get the financing, market access and technical support they need to grow and compete.
A Partnership Built on Shared Goals
Doherty said the programme is about more than just money. “Through the Export SME Development Programme, Afreximbank is partnering with financial institutions such as Azania Bank to provide not only financing, but also the capacity building and market access solutions required for SMEs to grow, export and integrate into regional and global value chains,” she said. She added that the partnership should help Tanzania meet its export goals and open new opportunities for local businesses under the AfCFTA.
Yahaya Mbanka, Director of Business Development at Azania Bank, welcomed the deal. “This facility will strengthen our ability to provide Tanzanian SMEs with the financing they need to grow their businesses, invest in productive capacity and pursue export opportunities,” he said. He noted that the partnership would also help the bank offer support that better matches the needs of businesses across Tanzania’s key value chains.
The facility fits into Afreximbank’s wider mission to support trade, industrialisation and export growth across Africa. It also matches Tanzania’s own priorities, which include boosting domestic production, adding value to goods, diversifying exports and strengthening regional trade ties.
According to Afreximbank’s 2025 Annual Trade Development Effectiveness Report, the Bank gave out more than US$960 million to over 58,000 SMEs across Africa last year, with a focus on women- and youth-led businesses. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, with shareholder funds of US$8.4 billion.
