The funding will support businesses seeking to expand production, acquire assets and finance trade with regional and international markets.

The facility is being delivered through Afreximbank’s Export SME Development Programme, which works with local financial institutions to channel funding and business support to export-oriented enterprises.

Azania Bank will provide eligible SMEs with working capital and medium-term financing for business expansion and pre- and post-export activities.

The funding will target companies operating in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, technology, logistics and value-added exports.

These sectors are central to Tanzania’s efforts to increase domestic production, process more goods locally and diversify its exports beyond primary commodities.

SMEs frequently require capital to purchase raw materials, fulfill export orders, upgrade equipment and manage the period between production and customer payment.

Limited access to suitable financing can prevent otherwise viable businesses from accepting larger contracts or entering new markets, making the structure of the Afreximbank facility particularly relevant to export growth.

The financing will expand Azania Bank’s capacity to support enterprises at different stages of the export cycle. Azania Bank already provides SME loans, agribusiness banking and trade-finance services, giving it an established platform for directing the facility to businesses with commercial export opportunities.

“This facility will strengthen our ability to provide Tanzanian SMEs with the financing they need to grow their businesses, invest in productive capacity and pursue export opportunities,” said Yahaya Mbanka, Director of Business Development at Azania Bank.

Afreximbank will complement the financing with export-readiness training, financial-management advisory services, market connections and digitalization support.

Participating businesses will also gain access to SME knowledge and networking platforms intended to improve their ability to compete, manage growth and reach buyers outside Tanzania.

The combination of finance and technical assistance is designed to address barriers that often prevent small companies from converting market demand into completed export transactions.

Businesses must not only secure customers but also meet product standards, manage documentation, finance production and deliver goods within agreed timelines.

“Through the Export SME Development Programme, Afreximbank is partnering with financial institutions such as Azania Bank to provide not only financing, but also the capacity building and market access solutions required for SMEs to grow, export and integrate into regional and global value chains,” said Oluranti Doherty, Afreximbank’s Managing Director for Export Development.

The facility also connects Tanzanian businesses to the commercial opportunities emerging from the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Better access to working capital and export support can help SMEs supply customers across Africa, participate in regional production networks and take advantage of reduced trade barriers as AfCFTA implementation progresses.

The financing addresses a wider shortage of trade capital across the continent. Afreximbank’s 2025 African Trade Report estimated Africa’s annual trade-finance gap at approximately $100 billion, a constraint that disproportionately affects smaller businesses seeking to participate in regional value chains.

The report also recorded intra-African trade of $220.3 billion in 2024, representing 14.4% of the continent’s formal trade.

Afreximbank reported separately that it provided more than $960 million to over 58,000 African SMEs in 2025, including women- and youth-led businesses.

The Tanzania facility extends that approach through a domestic banking partner with knowledge of local companies and sector financing needs.

For Tanzania, the $10 million facility provides a direct route for export-focused SMEs to obtain capital while strengthening their operational and market capabilities.

Its economic value will depend on how effectively the funding helps local enterprises increase production, complete export orders and build sustained commercial relationships across African and international markets.