African Export-Import Bank and Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited have launched a $15 million financing programme aimed at improving access to export-linked funding for small and medium-sized enterprises in Zimbabwe.
The facility, introduced under Afreximbank’s Export SME Development Programme, is expected to support businesses operating across critical sectors of the Zimbabwean economy, including agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, technology and the creative industry.
According to the two institutions, the programme is designed to provide both working capital and long-term financing support for SMEs involved in export value chains and intra-African trade activities.
The initiative builds on a longstanding partnership between Afreximbank and Ecobank Zimbabwe that began in 2018 and reflects growing efforts to strengthen trade financing access for African businesses.
Afreximbank stated that a significant portion of the facility would support intra-African trade while part of the financing would be directed toward industrial and manufacturing activities to promote regional economic integration.
Management said the programme goes beyond direct lending by incorporating business development support and operational capacity building for participating enterprises.
Beneficiary SMEs are expected to receive support in areas such as financial management, export readiness, digital transformation, operations management and market expansion strategies.
The bank explained that the integrated approach is intended to improve business sustainability, strengthen credit quality and position SMEs for long-term competitiveness within regional and continental markets.
Ecobank Zimbabwe said the financing programme would expand its ability to support local enterprises that often struggle to access long-tenor and export-focused funding through conventional banking channels.
The lender noted that SMEs remain central to Zimbabwe’s economic structure, accounting for a large share of employment and national output despite persistent financing constraints.
Executives from both institutions described the programme as a strategic intervention designed to improve industrial productivity, strengthen export capacity and support broader economic growth across Zimbabwe.
Industry analysts believe the facility could help unlock growth opportunities for small businesses operating along key Southern African trade corridors while supporting implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
The financing programme also reflects Afreximbank’s broader strategy of using development finance and institutional partnerships to expand trade participation and industrialisation across the continent.
At the end of 2025, Afreximbank reported total assets and contingencies exceeding $48 billion as the institution continues to expand its role in financing African trade and regional economic development.
