AfDB Grants $50M Trade Finance Guarantee to BIAT to Boost Tunisian Trade

Tunis, July 2025 — The African Development Bank (AfDB) has granted a $50 million Trade Finance Guarantee Facility to Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie (BIAT), in a move aimed at enhancing trade, supporting industrialization, and promoting inclusive private sector growth in Tunisia.

A Strategic Partnership for Economic Transformation

The three-year guarantee facility will offer up to 100% coverage on trade finance instruments issued by BIAT, significantly improving the bank’s ability to support importers and exporters across various sectors. This support will be especially vital for businesses navigating global supply chains amid tightening financial conditions.

“This facility is a critical step toward enabling Tunisian companies—especially SMEs and women-led businesses—to access the global marketplace with less financial risk,” said an AfDB spokesperson.

Focused Support Where It Matters

The guarantee prioritizes agro-industry, light manufacturing, and essential imports—sectors seen as pivotal to Tunisia’s long-term competitiveness and self-sufficiency. The facility is expected to unlock trade flows for items such as industrial machinery, food production inputs, and renewable energy components, helping to modernize the country’s productive base.

At the same time, it supports large corporates, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and women-led businesses, reflecting a strong push toward inclusive and equitable economic growth.

Strategic Development Outcomes

This initiative aligns closely with Tunisia’s development goals, and with the African Development Bank’s broader mission of supporting economic diversification, job creation, and global integration. By easing access to trade finance, the facility aims to reduce bottlenecks for local firms and encourage value-added production for export.

Key Features at a Glance:

Feature	Description
Guarantee Amount	USD 50 million
Duration	3 years
Coverage	Up to 100% on BIAT-issued trade finance instruments
Target Sectors	Agro-industry, light manufacturing, essential imports
Priority Groups	Large corporates, SMEs, women-led businesses
Strategic Goals	Industrialization, economic diversification, job creation, global integration

Building a More Resilient Future

BIAT, Tunisia’s largest private-sector bank, is well-positioned to deliver on the goals of this facility. By expanding access to trade finance, it can better serve the financing needs of growing enterprises, reduce transaction costs, and encourage new market entry.

This $50 million initiative is more than a financial guarantee—it’s a long-term investment in Tunisia’s economic resilience and global competitiveness.