Afreximbank extends 10m US dollars financing to enable Azania Bank finance Tanzanian SMEs

DAR ES SALAAM: THE African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has extended a 10m  US dollars  financing facility to Azania Bank to expand access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating across Tanzania’s export value chains.

The facility, provided under Afreximbank’s Export SME Development Programme (ESDP), is intended to enable Azania Bank to offer eligible SMEs working capital and medium-term financing for business expansion, acquisition of productive assets, and pre- and post-export activities.

The initiative comes as SMEs continue to play a central role in Tanzania’s industrialisation, employment creation and trade development, while facing financing constraints that can limit their ability to expand production and enter regional and international markets.

Under the arrangement, Azania Bank will on-lend the funds to eligible SMEs involved in export-oriented activities in sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, trade, technology, logistics and value-added exports.

Afreximbank said the financing is expected to improve SME productivity, strengthen export readiness and support greater integration of Tanzanian businesses into regional and global value chains.

The facility will also seek to position SMEs to take advantage of opportunities emerging from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly through increased participation in cross-border trade and regional supply networks.

Beyond financing, participating SMEs will receive business development support from Afreximbank, including export-readiness training, financial management advisory services, market-linkage opportunities, digitalisation support and access to SME-focused knowledge and networking platforms.

Afreximbank said the additional interventions are aimed at improving enterprise resilience and competitiveness while enabling businesses to scale sustainably.

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“SMEs are the backbone of Africa’s productive economy and are critical to driving industrialisation, value addition and trade-led growth. However, many businesses continue to face significant barriers to accessing the financing, market opportunities and technical support needed to scale and compete effectively,” an Afreximbank representative said.

“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,” the representative said.

The representative added that the partnership would contribute to Tanzania’s export development objectives and help local enterprises take advantage of opportunities created by the AfCFTA.

Azania Bank said the facility would strengthen its capacity to finance businesses seeking to expand their operations, invest in productive capacity and pursue export opportunities.

“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,” the bank said.

The partnership also aligns with Tanzania’s priorities on increasing domestic production, promoting value addition, diversifying exports and strengthening regional trade integration.

Data from Afreximbank’s 2025 Annual Trade Development Effectiveness Report shows that the bank extended more than 960m  US dollars to over 58,000 SMEs across Africa.

The programme also prioritised women- and youth-led enterprises, providing trade finance aimed at helping businesses secure capital, expand production, participate in cross-border trade and access new markets.

The latest facility therefore places Tanzania’s SMEs within a broader continental financing initiative focused on strengthening productive capacity and improving African businesses’ ability to participate in intra-African and international trade.