GHIB and BII announce $50mpartnership to boost cross-border trade across Africa’s frontier economies

• First partnership between GHIB and BII, two UK institutions to address trade finance needs on the continent.
• Target economies include Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Benin, DRC, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Ghana International Bank plc (GHIB), a leading UK-based African financial institution, and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, today announced a $50m trade finance facility covering Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda andTanzania.

Under a Master Risk Participation Agreement (MPRA), the $50 million facility will enable GHIB to support more businesses and facilitate trade flows in the target countries.

This addresses the general lack of credit appetite for frontiermarkets in Africa for reasons including high risk perception and comparatively lower volumes.

Increased trade finance can enable local businesses to import the commodities and equipment they need to sustain and grow…