Afreximbank’s innovative financing in Zimbabwe becomes model for African economies: AIB Chairman

CAIRO - 24 October 2025: Amr Kamel, Non executive Chairman of the Arab International Bank (AIB) and former Executive Vice President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), highlighted the success of Afreximbank’s innovative Structured Fair Finance model as a cornerstone of the bank’s strategy to support African economies while mitigating financial risks.

During the bank’s leadership transition event, Kamel explained that the model is based on an equitable distribution of risks and returns among partners, transferring exposure from less capable entities to those with stronger financial capacity. This approach, he said, enables the bank to achieve the highest possible development impact with the lowest manageable risk.

One of the most notable examples of this model’s success, Kamel noted, is Afreximbank’s experience in Zimbabwe, where the bank opened its Harare office in 1996. Over the years, it became a key player in helping the country address economic challenges, particularly during the early 2000s, through the design of structured financing mechanisms tailored to national needs.

He added that the bank played a crucial role in securing Zimbabwe’s essential imports, such as oil and grains, through a mechanism that involved exporters’ mandates and the strategic use of national reserves to ensure continuity of critical supplies. This structure, Kamel emphasized, reflected the bank’s philosophy of “maximum impact with minimal risk.”

Beyond its financial results, Kamel pointed out that the Zimbabwean experience contributed to strengthening local industries, reforming regulatory frameworks, and supporting technological advancement, turning it into a model for other African nations seeking sustainable development solutions.

Kamel also took the opportunity to commend Benedict Oramah, whose vision and leadership, he said, have left a lasting mark on the bank’s innovation journey. He described Oramah as the driving force behind Afreximbank’s creative products and initiatives that expanded the bank’s footprint across the continent, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when the bank played a leading role in securing vaccines and reinforcing public health resilience.

He concluded by emphasizing that Afreximbank’s continued success is built on its ability to design financial solutions that are both sustainable and fair, helping African economies overcome structural challenges and move toward greater integration and shared prosperity.