The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a US$100 million facility agreement with NBS Bank Plc Malawi under the Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Programme (AFTRAF). The credit line will strengthen NBS Bank’s trade finance portfolio and enable it to support critical imports into Malawi, including fertiliser, medicines and fuel.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Cairo by Mr. Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank, and Mrs. Temwani Simwaka, Chief Executive Officer of NBS Bank.
Speaking at the signing, Mr. El Maayergi described the facility as “among the largest limits for AFTRAF for a bank in Malawi,” underscoring Afreximbank’s commitment to bolstering the country’s trade capacity. He added that the facility reflects “the good and long-term relationship that exists between Afreximbank and the NBS/NICO group.”
The credit line will allow NBS Bank to meet the growing trade needs of its clients and expand trade volumes for strategic commodities. It will also provide the bank with a confirmation line from within Africa, enhancing the confidence of counterparties in settling international trade transactions.
Afreximbank said the facility aligns with its mandate to support intra- and extra-African trade by improving access to essential imports, boosting intra-African commerce and strengthening correspondent banking relationships.
The AFTRAF programme provides trade confirmation services, trade confirmation guarantees and irrevocable reimbursement undertakings, all designed to improve liquidity and support the purchase of equipment for export production.
The signing took place during IATF2025, which attracted more than 112,000 visitors from 132 countries, hosted 2,148 exhibitors and generated US$48.3 billion in trade and investment deals over its seven-day run from 4 to 10 September 2025.
