Bank of Africa DRC set for $5 million IFC trade deal

International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering a $5 million trade finance facility for Bank of Africa DRC to boost small and medium-sized enterprises and help close the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s persistent trade finance gap.

The facility, with a final decision expected on June 8, 2026, will strengthen short-term trade financing in Congo and support broader regional trade integration.

What the IFC facility targets

The proposed facility, under IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP), is scheduled for board consideration on June 8, 2026. It will operate through the African Trade and Supply Chain Finance Recovery Initiative (ATRI), supported by blended finance from the International Development Association.

The funding is designed to support imports and exports of Machinery, Pharmaceuticals, Food products, IT equipment and Agricultural inputs.

IFC expands trade finance access in Congo

The facility will be structured as an unfunded guarantee line issued on IFC’s account, enabling Bank of Africa DRC to increase its trade financing capacity while reducing risk exposure for international partner banks.

This approach strengthens correspondent banking relationships and improves Congolese businesses’ access to global suppliers. Beyond funding, IFC will provide technical expertise to help Bank of Africa DRC improve its trade finance products and expand SME-focused banking services. The project is classified as low-risk under IFC’s sustainability framework and excludes high-risk sectors such as coal and uncertified palm oil trade.

Bank of Africa DRC and Africa’s SMEs

Bank of Africa DRC ranks among the top 10 lenders in the country, with total assets of $726 million as of December 2025. The bank serves about 96,000 customers through 17 branches nationwide.

The lender is majority-owned by the Bank of Africa Group, which operates across 19 Sub-Saharan African markets. Trade finance shortages remain a major barrier for African businesses, especially SMEs reliant on imports and cross-border supply chains.