Johannesburg, South Africa, February 4, 2026: – The Republic of South Africa officially joined the Establishment Agreement of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) today, the main multilateral financial institution in Africa, marking the official entry of the largest African economy into the circle of Bank members and announcing the financial sovereignty of both parties.
This membership follows the historic approval of the accession by the South African Parliament in 2025, cementing a strategic partnership between the main African multilateral bank and the continent’s industrial powerhouse. South Africa becomes the 54th state to join the Bank’s constitutive agreement, a historic step as the two partners seek to open up commercial opportunities in a world financial context that is increasingly fragmented due to protectionist policies and the reorganization of trade blocs.
To make this partnership operational, Afreximbank will launch major financial interventions in the country. This is a new $8 billion Country Programme aimed at strengthening the South African economy. This program aims to increase the Bank’s impact on development, strengthen industrial development and regional supply chains, and significantly boost intra-African trade and investment flows. This support is strategically aligned with South Africa’s economic ambitions.
As the largest regional contributor to intra-African trade on the continent, representing 19.1% of the continent’s total trade in 2024, South Africa is ideally positioned to leverage Afreximbank’s trade infrastructure, expertise, and pan-African reach to expand its export relationships across the continent.
Dr. George Elombi, President of Afreximbank and Chairman of the Bank’s Board of Directors, emphasized that South Africa’s accession represents a “decisive step,” adding:
“This confirmation of South Africa’s accession to Afreximbank marks a decisive step towards unifying around the economic interests of the continent, the interests of our mother continent. While providing Afreximbank with comprehensive continental coverage, it places South Africa at the heart of Afreximbank’s vision and its aspirations to promote much-needed change in the structure of African trade.”
“I am therefore pleased that in collaboration with the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), under the leadership of Minister Parks Tau, we have put together what we consider to be a significant $8 billion envelope for South Africa. The Country Programme aligns with South Africa’s National Development Plan for 2030 and national priorities in industry and trade, targeting key strategic areas”.
Dr. Elombi added that Afreximbank’s current portfolio of projects in South Africa, at various stages of review, exceeds $6 billion and covers the healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, energy, industry, and mining sectors.
Commenting on South Africa’s accession to Afreximbank, the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa stated:
“Today we are taking an important step in our quest to achieve what I would call the economic integration of our continent. South Africa’s accession to the African Export-Import Bank confirms our commitment to African industrial development and deepening trade, investment, and development across the continent. Once finalized, the South Africa-Afreximbank Country Programme will be implemented through a set of financial measures that will initially support a series of strategic projects in the trade and industry sector. One of the areas we will focus on immediately is strengthening our Transformation Fund, to support black-owned businesses that, by the way, were prevented by the apartheid system from actively participating in our country’s economy”.
President Ramaphosa added: “For over 30 years, Afreximbank has demonstrated its capabilities, resilience, and innovative spirit, but above all, it has proven its impact. This partnership will strengthen South Africa’s ability to support South African exporters, industrial projects, and regional value chains while promoting the progress of our continent”.
Following this announcement, South Africa and Afreximbank have decided to jointly carry out commercial and economic development programs, including the South Africa-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Program (SATIPP), the Afreximbank Guarantee Program, financing for industrial parks and special economic zones, as well as financing for export trading companies, project and asset financing, conventional trade finance, project preparation by Afreximbank, and financing to support creative and cultural industries, along with a wide range of advisory services.
