Le Parlement de la Barbade ratifie l’Accord de partenariat avec Afreximbank, tandis que la Guyane et les Bahamas rejoignent les signataires

Categories: Communiqués de presse, Press Releases

Bridgetown, Barbados, 05 December 2022 – African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has applauded the ratification by the Barbadian Parliament of the Partnership Agreement with the Bank. Barbados, one of the nine member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that have so far signed the treaty, becomes the first to ratify it.

The Partnership Agreement between Afreximbank and the constituent countries of CARICOM was announced on 1 September 2022 at the inaugural Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) held in Bridgetown. It was initially signed by seven CARICOM countries on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the forum. Subsequently, the agreement was also signed by Guyana and more recently by The Bahamas, joining Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname as signatories.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between Afreximbank and the CARICOM to strengthen trade and investment links between Africa and CARICOM member states. The treaty aims to facilitate cooperation and mutual support, as well as help with the promotion and financing of trade between the two regions.

Barbados’ ratification of the agreement constitutes a major advance for the promotion and development of South-South trade between Africa and the Caribbean, and now clears the path for Afreximbank and the co-parties to begin their joint efforts to realise the benefits of the closer trade and economic links which the treaty was designed to promote.

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, commented:

“I am delighted by the courageous and historic move of the Government of Barbados towards closer trade between Africa and the Caribbean. This ratification will reverberate for generations to come and pave the way towards the rebound of cultural and economic ties between two regions that share great historical links and significant economic interests. We are also pleased to welcome The Bahamas and Guyana among the other signatories to the Partnership Agreement.”

– Ends –

About Afreximbank

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. Afreximbank deploys innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Afreximbank is working with the AU and the AfCFTA Secretariat to develop an Adjustment Facility to support countries in effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of 2021, the Bank’s total assets and guarantees stood at about US$25 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$4 billion. Afreximbank disbursed more than US$51 billion between 2016 and 2021. The Bank has ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com 

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Media Contact

Amadou Labba Sall: asall@afreximbank.com