Babajide Okeowo
Nigerian exporters would be among other exporters in West Africa that will benefit from Nigerian Export-Import Bank’s $1 billion trade facilitation pact. This is according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed during the inaugural Intra-African Trade Fair in Cairo, Egypt.
In a statement made available to newsmen, NEXIM Bank made known that the MoU would be implemented under the Nigeria-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme to support trade and investment flow between Nigeria and other African countries.
Under the agreement, AFREXIM will provide $1 billion Line of Credit, which will be disbursed by NEXIM to qualifying beneficiary projects and transactions in support of intra-African trade and investments.
According to the MoU, the fund is available to support the growth of trade between Nigeria and other African countries with special emphasis on value addition, particularly in primary goods and commodities. The statement said the $1 billion would assist in enhancing local earnings and job creation.
READ ALSO: Illegal Deductions: NCC set to sanction erring Telcos
The fund is also available to support capital and investment flows as well as projects being sponsored by Nigerians in other countries.
While speaking during the signing, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NEXIM, Abba Bello, said the deal would go a long way in boosting access of Nigerian exporters to investment capital and investment guarantee instruments, including the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He said through the pact, the bank would be able to promote intra-African trade and increasing the volume of formal trade.
In implementing this programme, Bello also highlighted that the NEXIM bank would be working with all stakeholders, including exporters, investment partners as well as other financial institutions, both domestic and foreign to realise the NATIPP programme objectives.