Afreximbank lends $100,000–$10,000,000 to African SMEs doing intra-African or international trade. You need 2+ years of audited accounts and proven trade flows; apply through Afreximbank or a partner regional bank.
The AEDP provides trade finance, working capital, and export credit facilities to African SMEs seeking to expand intra-African or international trade under the AfCFTA framework. Eligible businesses receive access to pre- and post-shipment financing, letters of credit, and invoice discounting through Afreximbank's network of partner institutions. The programme is designed to grow African export capacity and reduce dependence on non-African markets.
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Afreximbank and its partner banks assess applications based on your trading history, financial health, and the viability of the specific trade transactions you want to finance. They review your audited accounts, trade documentation, and the strength of your export or import flows. The timeline for approval typically depends on the complexity of your trade structure and the bank's due diligence requirements; applications are assessed on a rolling basis rather than in fixed funding rounds.
What reviewers look for
You can do either. Afreximbank works through a network of partner regional banks in African countries. Applying through a partner bank in your country is typically faster and easier; the bank handles the relationship with Afreximbank on your behalf.
Pre-shipment financing (money before you ship), post-shipment financing (after shipment, before payment arrives), letters of credit, and invoice discounting. Which one you need depends on your trade cycle.
No. The requirement is audited accounts for at least 2 years. You will need to wait until you have a full 2 years of audited financials.
The facility ranges from $100,000 to $10,000,000. Your actual loan size will depend on the value of your trade transactions, your track record, and the bank's assessment of your repayment capacity.
This varies. With complete documents and a straightforward trade structure, approval can take 2–4 weeks. Complex applications or additional due diligence can extend this to 6–8 weeks or more.
Guide written from the official programme page on 16 October 2026. Funders change their rules, so confirm the details on the official page before you apply.
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