African Export-Import Bank, Africa Development Bank, and FCI: Launch Grant to Support  Firms in Africa

By Richard Adorsu-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Accra, Ghana- The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) together with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and FCI announced the creation of a special purpose Grant authorized and funded by the AfDB’s Trust Fund to support the capacity building of emerging factoring firms in Africa that will benefit many SMEs across Africa.

The Grant will be mobilized by the African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), a bi-lateral, multi donor fund and will allow FCI and Afreximbank to increase its positive impact on the African population and support its mission to grow factoring in the African continent.

The Grant includes consultancy services to advise the start-up and establishment of factoring companies in legal, operations, risk, administration and technology. It will provide advisory and mentoring services to entrepreneurs, finance companies and commercial banks. It will help to organize conferences and workshops on the continent as well as to train and sensitize users and government officials. It will offer scholarships into the FCI Academy’s online courses to various stakeholders. It also includes funding for entrance into the FCI-Afreximbank “Certificate of Finance in International Trade” (COFIT) programme. Attendees from Africa will be able to participate in this one-year highly specialized combined virtual online and physical in-person education experience at the headquarters of Afreximbank, which is accredited, backed and certified by the University of Malta.

Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Initiative and Chairperson of the FCI Africa Chapter commented: “The challenges faced in accessing finance has greatly impacted the ability of many SMEs in Africa to grow and to pursue business opportunities. Afreximbank sees factoring as an important solution to bridge the funding gap facing SMEs, and the FAPA Grant will complement our strategy to grow intra-African trade and facilitate greater SME contribution to regional and global supply chains. The FAPA Grant will also reinforce and grow the availability of effective factoring across the continent and increase awareness and knowledge of the product in Africa. We look forward to a successful collaboration with AfDB and FCI in the implementation of the Grant.”

Bleming Nekati, Chief Trade Finance Officer at the African Development Bank stated, “Small businesses in Africa face major constraints in accessing finance, not only due to a general underdevelopment of the financial sector, but also due to other constrains, such as the lack of information and awareness about what factoring is and its benefits as an alternative trade finance instrument. Given the multi sectoral impact of trade finance in general, and factoring in particular, by ultimately benefitting SMEs within sectors such as agriculture, light manufacturing, telecoms, and power generation, this initiative is consistent with our strategic focus as outlined in the Bank’s High 5s, namely: Integrate Africa, Feed Africa, Light Up & Power Africa, Industrialize Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa. We are therefore, extremely proud and excited to partner with Afreximbank and FCI in efforts to help develop and grow the factoring industry in Africa.”

Peter Mulroy, FCI Secretary General added: “We are delighted to partner with the African Development Bank and Afreximbank on this very unique journey to help increase awareness, educate the future generation of the factoring industry in Africa, and provide financial support to users, whether they be small entrepreneurial investors, existing finance houses, boutique trade finance shops, commercial banks, legislature, central bankers, ministry officials and regulators, all to support the development of a strong, safe, and healthy future for the industry. We look forward to launching together with our partners this very exciting initiative.”

The newly appointed  Regional Manager for Africa, Nassourou Aminou, who would be based in Cairo, Egypt working together and alongside Afreximbank’s Factoring Working Group. Aminou will be charged to support the deployment of the Grants.

For New Africa Daily News Richard Adorsu Reports,  Africa Correspondent

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