Prime Minister the Right Honourable Gaston Browne on Thursday held bilateral discussions with a senior delegation from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), as the Government of Antigua and Barbuda seeks to strengthen its development partnership with the Pan-African financial institution and advance opportunities for investment and trade.

The meeting followed Antigua and Barbuda’s successful hosting of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which Prime Minister Browne described as a highly successful undertaking that had established a stronger platform for cooperation among Commonwealth countries.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Commonwealth’s ambition to increase intra-Commonwealth trade to approximately US$2 trillion by 2030, noting that the expansion of trade between Africa and the Caribbean would create significant opportunities for Afreximbank to support investment and commercial relations between the two regions.

Prime Minister Browne welcomed the opportunity to deepen Antigua and Barbuda’s relationship with the Bank and pointed to a number of national development projects that could benefit from its financing and technical support. He noted that Antigua and Barbuda was among the first countries to sign a partnership agreement with Afreximbank, although the Government had not yet accessed financing under the arrangement.

He expressed the Government’s intention to advance the partnership and explore the availability of funding for both public-sector and private-sector projects. Referring to the investment forum convened during CHOGM, the Prime Minister noted that several promising projects had been presented and indicated that the Government would seek to bring a pipeline of viable proposals to the Bank for consideration.

The Prime Minister also raised the importance of competitive interest rates, observing that more favourable financing terms could increase demand for the Bank’s facilities and make its resources more accessible to borrowing countries.

In response, the Afreximbank delegation outlined the range of financing instruments and development-support facilities available through the institution. The delegation explained that the Bank’s operations extend beyond conventional loans and advances to include concessional financing, equity investment and project preparation support.

The delegation advised that the Bank’s shareholders had approved the establishment of a concessional financing window, which had received US$250 million in funding at the time of the meeting. The facility is intended to help blend financing and reduce the overall cost of funding for eligible projects. The Bank indicated that it was recruiting staff and undertaking additional fundraising to support the facility’s operations.

The delegation also highlighted the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), which provides patient equity capital to support development-oriented investments. In addition, the Bank’s project preparation facility assists in preparing and de-risking projects, helping to move them from the conceptual stage towards bankability and eventual financing.

Afreximbank further outlined its support for the creative industries, including film, fashion and gastronomy, with particular emphasis on opportunities for young people. The delegation noted that the Bank also supports major infrastructure development, including industrial parks, seaports and airports.

The delegation explained that Afreximbank frequently works alongside other development finance institutions to structure major projects and mobilise financing in ways that can reduce the fiscal burden on participating governments. As an example of its infrastructure involvement, the delegation referred to its work with the Ethiopian Government on a major airport expansion project.

Prime Minister Browne welcomed the information provided and expressed interest in exploring the various financing instruments available through the Bank. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to identifying projects that could attract Afreximbank support and translate the partnership agreement into tangible development outcomes for Antigua and Barbuda.

Both sides expressed a commitment to strengthening their relationship and pursuing practical opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure development and other areas of mutual interest.

The engagement forms part of Antigua and Barbuda’s wider effort to deepen economic relations with Africa and expand access to development financing and investment partnerships as the country pursues its national development priorities. (Ends)

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: PM Gaston Browne Explores US$250 Million Afreximbank Concessional Financing Facility for Antigua and Barbuda’s Development Projects.