By Ayomide Otitoju
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a $100 million facility agreement with NBS Bank Plc Malawi under its Trade Facilitation Programme (AFTRAF), aimed at strengthening the bank’s trade finance portfolio and supporting imports of essential commodities.
The deal, finalized on the sidelines of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Cairo, was signed by Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Haytham El Maayergi, and NBS Bank CEO, Temwani Simwaka.
According to Afreximbank, the credit line will enable NBS Bank to scale its trade volumes and finance critical imports such as fuel, fertilisers, and medicines. El Maayergi described the agreement as one of the largest AFTRAF facilities for a Malawian bank, underscoring the lender’s commitment to supporting its member states.
“This facility not only demonstrates Afreximbank’s strong relationship with the NBS/NICO group, but also affirms our mandate to strengthen both intra- and extra-African trade,” he said.
The AFTRAF programme is designed to boost confidence in international trade settlements, enhance correspondent banking relationships, and facilitate financing for key imports and export-oriented equipment.
The signing took place during IATF2025, which attracted more than 112,000 visitors from 132 countries, featured 2,148 exhibitors, and recorded $48.3 billion in trade and investment deals over seven days.
