Africa Trade: Afreximbank, ECIC partner to boost trade with $1bn

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch a $1 billion financing programme to promote and expand trade and investments between South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Under the terms of the MOU signed during the week in Cairo, Afreximbank and ECIC will jointly implement a South Africa-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme (SATIPP).

Afreximbank in a statement made available to The Daily Times on Thursday, showed that SATIPP will involve the two institutions working together on identification, preparation and appraisal of trade transactions and projects; exploration of co-financing and risk-sharing opportunities; and knowledge-sharing work, with particular emphasis on intra-African trade matters, through technical cooperation, staff exchange, research and joint events.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, President of Afreximbank, Dr. Benedict Oramah, said: “In line with our strategy, IMPACT 2021: AFRICA TRANSFORMED, which prioritizes intra-African trade, industrialization and export manufacturing, we decided to develop this joint programme as it provides a platform for the realization of our strategic objectives while also aligning with South Africa’s strategic goal of expanding trade with the rest of Africa.”

The President, further noted that in addition to being Africa’s most industrialized country and a regional manufacturing hub, with one of the largest and most diversified economies in the continent, South Africa also accounted for the largest proportion of intra-African trade for both exports, at 24.5 per cent, and imports, at 15.4 per cent.

The joint initiative would support businesses through capacity building and market information initiatives; help small and medium-sized entrepreneurs join regional supply chains; and provide advisory services and guarantees to South African investors seeking trade and investment opportunities in Afreximbank African member states, added Dr. Oramah.

In his response, Chief Executive Officer of ECIC, Kutoane Kutoane, said that joining Afreximbank as a shareholder had made it possible for South Africa to widen its access to other African markets.

Beyond ECIC’s mandate to increase the volumes of South African exports, the institution was committed to contributing to the Africa’s industrialization in an inclusive manner.

“We realize that one of the best ways to enhance our exporting capabilities as a country is by intensifying mutually beneficial trade with the rest of the continent,” said Mr. Kutoane.

Also speaking, Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Initiative, said that SATIPP offered numerous opportunities to South-Africa-based entrepreneurs expanding to the rest of Africa, including trade and project financing, guarantees, twinning/business matchmaking services, export logistics facilitation, capacity-building, and trade information and advisory services.

Implementation of the MOU will involve technical teams from the two institutions collaborating in the identification of trade transactions and projects eligible for financing.

It would be recalled that South Africa, joined Afreximbank as shareholder in November 2017 and named ECIC as its designated investor, became eligible for the Bank’s trade promotion programmes and financial services as a result of that shareholding.