The International Finance Corporation (IFC), dedicated to financing the private sector, approved a loan of 37.5 billion CFA francs on January 2, 2025, in favor of the Cameroonian bank Afriland First Bank.This loan will enable the leaders of the Cameroonian banking market to boost their long-term loans to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for more than 90% of the national economic fabric, according to Cameroonian authorities.According to the loan agreement, the International Finance Corporation undertakes to finance twenty(20) million dollars of the total amount, while the remaining amount will be mobilized from other partner lenders.The maturity of the financing is five years with a grace period of twelve (12)months.Backed by a collective guarantee of up to $3 million provided by the International Development Association(IDA),  exclusively for SMEs, which will finance at least 25% of women-owned businesses.

Christelle koambi