Afreximbank extends US$10-million facility to Azania Bank to support SMEs in Tanzania
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 17 September 2026
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has extended a US$10-million finance facility to Azania Bank of Tanzania (Azania Bank) to improve access to finance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across Tanzania’s export value chains and to strengthen their participation in regional and international trade
Delivered under Afreximbank’s Export SME Development Programme (ESDP), the facility will enable Azania Bank to provide eligible SMEs with both working capital and medium-term financing to support business expansion, asset acquisition and pre- and post-export operations. This is expected to boost productivity and enhance participation in regional and global value chains, while addressing persistent financing gaps that constrain SME growth and export development.
Azania Bank will on-lend the funds to eligible SMEs engaged in export-oriented activities across key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, trade, technology, logistics and value-added exports. The facility will enhance the bank’s ability to support the growing financing needs of SMEs and emerging businesses that play a vital role in Tanzania’s industrialisation and trade agenda.
The initiative is expected to support business growth, create employment opportunities, improve export readiness and strengthen Tanzania’s participation in regional value chains. It will also help SMEs leverage opportunities arising from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enhancing their capacity to participate effectively in cross-border trade and regional supply networks.
In addition to financing, Afreximbank will provide participating SMEs with structured business development support, including export readiness training, financial management advisory services, market linkage opportunities, digitalisation support and access to SME-focused knowledge and networking platforms. These interventions are designed to strengthen enterprise resilience, improve competitiveness and enable SMEs to scale sustainably.
Mrs. Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director, Export Development, Afreximbank commented: “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”.
“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. We believe this partnership will contribute meaningfully to Tanzania’s export development objectives and help unlock new opportunities for local enterprises under the AfCFTA.”
Mr. Yahaya Mbanka, Director, Business Development, Azania Bank Plc, said: “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. Our partnership with Afreximbank will also enable us to offer support that responds more closely to the needs of businesses operating across Tanzania’s key value chains.”
The facility which supports Afreximbank’s mandate to promote trade, industrialisation and export development across Africa, also aligns with Tanzania’s priorities around domestic production, value addition, export diversification and regional trade integration.
Afreximbank’s 2025 Afreximbank Annual Trade Development Effectiveness Report (ATDER) shows that the Bank extended over US$960 million to more than 58,000 SMEs across Africa. The initiative which prioritized women- and youth-led enterprises among others, delivered trade finance facilities that empowered businesses to obtain the capital necessary to scale, engage in cross-border trade, and expand into new markets.
