By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania’s business community is set to benefit immensely from new opportunities following CRDB Bank’s landmark partnerships with three global development finance institutions — FinDev Canada, DEG (KfW Group, Germany), and Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB).
Signed on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., these agreements represent a major leap in CRDB’s drive to expand inclusive, sustainable financing across East Africa – with Tanzania at the centre of the action.
Empowering local businesses, SMEs
For Tanzanian entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the deals promise easier access to affordable credit and capacity-building support.
Through a US$ 60 million sustainability-linked facility from FinDev Canada, CRDB will scale up financing for MSMEs, focusing on women-owned businesses and climate-resilient projects.
This facility will enable more Tanzanian business owners to access capital to expand production, modernise operations, and create jobs.
In addition, a US$ 50 million partnership with DEG will support SME sub-loans, allowing CRDB to extend credit lines to sectors critical for growth – including agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics, and renewable energy. These funds are expected to help Tanzanian enterprises upgrade equipment, improve competitiveness, and strengthen their integration into regional value chains.
Financing inclusive growth and housing
The third agreement – a US$ 10 million facility with Shelter Afrique Development Bank – targets affordable housing through CRDB’s operations in the DRC, with plans to replicate the model in Tanzania and Burundi. The partnership will enable Tanzanian developers, contractors, and SMEs in the construction value chain to access financing for housing projects, helping address the region’s housing deficit while stimulating local industries.
According to CRDB Bank Group CEO Abdulmajid Nsekela, these collaborations mark a defining moment in the bank’s mission to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.
“These partnerships reflect our shared vision of an Africa that is financially inclusive, food secure, and sustainably developed,” Nsekela said. “Finance should be a force for good – unlocking potential, creating jobs, and transforming lives.”
Boost for Tanzania’s investment landscape
Economists note that the partnerships will deepen Tanzania’s position as an investment hub and enhance its resilience in key sectors.
By mobilising over US$ 120 million in impact capital, CRDB Bank is bridging global finance with local development, ensuring that Tanzanian SMEs gain access to world-class financing instruments without prohibitive costs.
Dr. Natu El-Maamry Mwamba, Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary of the Treasury, who led the delegation to Washington, hailed the move as a “timely intervention” to address financing gaps among entrepreneurs.
“For Tanzania’s business community, access to long-term, affordable finance remains critical,” she said. “These agreements will empower our private sector to invest, innovate, and compete globally.”
Strengthening Tanzania’s role in regional trade
With CRDB’s footprint extending across Tanzania, Burundi, and the DRC – and a representative office in Dubai – the partnerships will also help Tanzanian exporters tap into regional and international markets.
SMEs in horticulture, textiles, and agro-processing, for instance, will benefit from improved access to finance for cross-border trade and export expansion.
Sustainable future for Tanzanian businesses
Beyond financing, the partnerships will introduce new models of green and inclusive banking, aligning Tanzania’s financial ecosystem with global sustainability goals. CRDB’s digital platforms and climate finance initiatives will help local SMEs transition to environmentally friendly operations and adopt sustainable business practices.
For Tanzania’s private sector, this marks a new era where access to global finance, digital inclusion, and sustainability intersect to power inclusive growth. As Nsekela concluded; “This is more than capital; it is confidence in Africa’s future – and Tanzania is right at the heart of it.”
