African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a US$100 million facility agreement with NBS Bank Plc Malawi to boost the bank’s trade finance portfolio and strengthen its capacity to meet the import needs of Malawian businesses.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Cairo, was formalized by Mr. Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank, and Mrs. Temwani Simwaka, CEO of NBS Bank. The facility will support the importation of essential commodities, including fertiliser, medicines, and fuel.
“This US$100 million facility is among the largest limits for AFTRAF for a bank in Malawi,” said Mr. El Maayergi. “It demonstrates Afreximbank’s commitment to supporting Malawi’s trade aspirations as one of its member states. It also demonstrates the good and long-term relationship that exists between Afreximbank and the NBS/NICO group.”
He added that the funding will enable NBS Bank to “support the growing trade needs of its customers which are aimed at supporting and increasing trade volumes for strategic commodities in Malawi, notably the importation of fuel, fertiliser and pharmaceuticals, and would also provide the bank with a confirmation line from within Africa.”
Mr. El Maayergi stressed that the initiative aligns with Afreximbank’s wider mandate of supporting intra- and extra-African trade. “This facility was a demonstration of Afreximbank’s commitment to support indigenous African businesses and financial institutions to meet national needs,” he said.
The Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Programme (AFTRAF) is designed to enhance counterparties’ confidence in international trade settlements, improve correspondent banking relationships, and provide confirmation services and guarantees. By supporting critical imports and enabling financing for export-related production, the programme also aims to boost intra-African trade.
IATF2025, held from 4–10 September, attracted over 112,000 visitors from 132 countries, with 2,148 exhibitors and trade and investment deals worth US$48.3 billion signed during the week-long event.
