A delegation from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has concluded a visit to industrial facilities belonging to the Loukil Group in Tunis where it held discussions on collaboration with the group in the financing and development of trade activities in such sectors as agribusiness, manufacturing, factoring and property development.
Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Initiative, who led the delegation, said that companies like the Loukil Group, which, in addition to demonstrating world-class industrial expertise and enjoying access to international markets, had continental growth outlook, could contribute to Africa’s development momentum.
Afreximbank was particularly interested in working with such companies to foster inter-regional trade, especially between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, increase value-added exports and facilitate the further integration of African enterprises into supply chains, said Ms. Awani.
According to her, the delegation’s visit to Tunisia was in the context of the Bank’s strategy to grow intra-African trade and drive Africa’s industrialization through collaboration with “homegrown” corporate champions.
The delegation visited the Loukil Group’s industrial complexes in Sfax as well as its automobile showrooms and workshops for Mazda, Citroën and Renault vehicle brands. The Group represents the vehicle companies in Tunisia.
The delegation also held meetings with senior executives of Banque de l’Habitat (Tunisia’s national housing bank), the Tunisian Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation, and the Tunisia-Africa Business Association.
Also on the delegation were Rene Awambeng, Director of Client Relations, and Ayman El-Zoghby of the Intra-African Trade Initiative.
The Loukil Group, which was founded in 1979, has grown into a network of 30 companies employing close to 4,000 people across its operations in Tunisia, Europe and 11 other African countries, namely Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso, Chad, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania and Sudan.