The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a US$500 million term loan facility with the Central Bank of Tunisia on behalf of the country’s Ministry of Finance, in a move aimed at strengthening Tunisia’s economic stability, protecting critical imports, and supporting the government’s broader socio-economic development agenda.
The agreement, signed at Afreximbank’s headquarters, brought together the bank’s President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. George Elombi, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia, Dr. Fethi Zouhaier Nouri, alongside senior officials from both institutions.
The latest financing package comes, as Tunisia continues to navigate economic pressures, including foreign currency shortages, rising import costs and growing trade financing needs. The facility builds on the US$1.2 billion previously disbursed by Afreximbank to Tunisia’s central bank, reflecting the lender’s continued commitment to supporting African economies facing external financial constraints.
According to Afreximbank, the funding will enable the Tunisian government to settle maturing trade debt obligations while ensuring uninterrupted imports of essential commodities such as fuel, fertilizers and food products. The facility is also expected to improve the country’s foreign exchange liquidity, helping businesses access the foreign currency required to sustain trade and industrial activities.
Some economic analysts say the intervention is expected to cushion supply chain disruptions, stabilise domestic markets and reduce the risk of shortages of strategic goods that directly affect households, farmers and local industries. Improved access to fertilizers and fuel, for instance, could support agricultural production, lower production costs and help protect food security, while steady fuel imports are vital for transportation, electricity generation and industrial operations.
The facility could help ease pressure on the availability of basic commodities for ordinary Tunisians, by enabling the government to maintain import flows, during a period of constrained global financing. Small/Medium-scale enterprises that depend on imported raw materials, are also expected to benefit from improved access to foreign exchange, supporting business continuity, job retention and economic productivity.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Afreximbank President Dr. George Elombi said the agreement underlines the bank’s commitment to supporting Tunisia and advancing Africa’s long-term economic transformation. He noted that the partnership is happening at a time when many international development finance institutions, are reducing their exposure to Africa, stressing that African-owned financial institutions must progressively take the lead in financing the continent’s development priorities.
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