Tanzanian bank gets USD120 million line of credit from African Development Bank

The LoC extended will spur regional trade and promote regional integration through expanding capacity of Tanzania’s port and airport, which will also stimulate tourism in the region.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Gabriel Negatu, who was recently appointed the AfDB Director General, Eastern Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office (RDBDO), said poor infrastructure has been a major constraint for the region growth.

“Tanzania plays a key role in regional trade in terms of opening different countries to the world. This calls for faster development of its ports and airport to make East Africa more competitive in doing business,” Mr. Negatu said during the signing held at AfDB’s regional Headquarters in Nairobi.

Mr. Negatu added that the facility is also intended for onward lending to Small enterprises and women who have in the past been excluded from formal financial services.

This is in line with AfDB’s Hi-5 Priorities and 10-Year Strategy of deepening the financial markets and promoting inclusive growth.

Among the SMEs targetted includes those agriculture, construction, manufacturing, education and services sectors.CRDB, is Tanzania’s largest commercial bank with 120 branches in the country and footprint in Burundi.

It supports various sectors including power, manufacturing, agriculture and SMEs.

In 2008, AfDB provided a risk-sharing facility to CRDB aimed at promoting SMEs in the agriculture sector, through which more than 270 SMEs have benefited.