The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has stepped up to assist Caribbean nations severely affected by Hurricane Beryl, contributing over US$500,000 to disaster relief and reconstruction efforts in the region.
Hurricane Beryl caused significant devastation across the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada, as well as Union Island and Mayreau in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The storm also impacted parts of Saint Lucia and Barbados, though to a lesser extent.
Okechukwu Ihejirika, Acting Chief Operating Officer of Afreximbank’s Caribbean Office, personally delivered a message of solidarity from the bank’s President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Prof. Benedict Oramah, to the Prime Ministers of the affected countries.
In his letter, Prof. Oramah emphasized the strong ties between the Caribbean nations and Afreximbank, noting that they are part of the 11 CARICOM countries that have partnered with the bank under a Partnership Treaty. He stressed that it was crucial for the Bank to offer support during such challenging times.
“The devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl has deeply saddened us, and our hearts go out to all those affected by this disaster. However, we are confident in the well-known resilience and strength of the Caribbean people, which will no doubt help them recover during this difficult period,” said President Oramah.
Afreximbank has a history of going beyond its core mandate of promoting trade and development to offer crucial support during global crises. As climate-related and health disasters become increasingly common in both Africa and the Caribbean, the bank is committed to assisting nations in addressing these challenges.
**About Afreximbank**
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution dedicated to financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade. Over the past 30 years, the bank has developed innovative financing solutions to transform Africa’s trade landscape, promoting industrialization and regional trade, thereby accelerating the continent’s economic growth.
Notably, Afreximbank is a key supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and has launched the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), adopted by the African Union to facilitate AfCFTA implementation. The Bank is also establishing a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to assist countries in their participation in the AfCFTA.
As of December 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees exceeded US$37.3 billion, with shareholder funds of US$6.1 billion. Headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, Afreximbank has grown into a group entity comprising the Bank, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), and its insurance subsidiary, AfrexInsure.
Such a donation looks impressive on the face of it.
Why didn’t Afreximbank give to the countries in Mudda Africa which are always begging for help from the “racist” white man? Shouldn’t they be looking after their own house first?
Covid: While the head for health of the UN (he is from Ethiopia) was accusing the Whites of vaccine apartheid – while none of these countries contributed to anything for humans in the world – Guyana purchased millions of dollars worth of vaccines from Africa.
I ask: where did they get these vaccines from?