Standard Chartered and BII partner to expand trade finance in East Africa, prioritising women-led enterprises - Trade Treasury Payments

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Standard Chartered and BII partner to expand trade finance in East Africa, prioritising women-led enterprises

Standard Chartered, a bank, and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, have announced a $100 million trade finance facility aimed at addressing capital constraints facing businesses in Kenya and Tanzania. The programme will channel funding toward private sector firms in key growth sectors, with a particular emphasis on supporting women-led and women-focused enterprises.

The facility, which is expected to enable over $450 million in gross trade transactions across its lifecycle, will support companies in agriculture, infrastructure, food production, healthcare, and industrials. Its structure qualifies under the 2X Challenge, an initiative launched by G7 development finance institutions to mobilise capital that improves women’s access to leadership, quality employment, and financial resources.

Ndaba Mpofu, MD, Head of Financial Services Debt and Trade Finance at BII said, “We are thrilled to strengthen our long-standing partnership with Standard Chartered to empower underserved businesses in Kenya and Tanzania. By making trade finance more accessible, especially to benefit women, we are not only boosting the flow of essential goods but also driving inclusive growth and economic resilience in East Africa.”

Women-owned and women-led businesses across sub-Saharan Africa remain disproportionately underserved by financial institutions. The African Development Bank estimates a $42 billion financing gap for women-led SMEs across the continent. Facilities like this are designed to help close that gap by blending commercial capital with development-focused targets.

The announcement follows a previous $350 million facility signed in 2024, which itself extended an initial 2013 agreement between BII and Standard Chartered. 

Charles Corbett, Global Head, Public Sector Coverage at Standard Chartered said, “Our enduring partnership with BII is a strong example of how public-private collaboration can drive meaningful change. Together, we’ve helped expand access to trade finance in Africa, supporting businesses, jobs, and broader economic development. This new facility builds on that success, and we’re proud to continue delivering impact where it’s needed.”

The programme also aligns with the UK’s broader economic engagement in East Africa, which has increasingly focused on inclusive and sustainable development. 

Lord Collins, UK Minister for Africa, said, “The UK is facilitating opportunities for growth, at home and abroad. Partnerships between the private sector and the public sector are essential if we are to create growth and jobs for the UK, and our partners in East Africa – and now is the time to do this. By supporting enterprises and businesses in East Africa, in a sustainable and inclusive way, this partnership between British International Investment and Standard Chartered Bank means we can all go far, and go together.”

Kariuki Ngari, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kenya and Africa at Standard Chartered, said, “We are committed to unlocking opportunities for growth and resilience across East Africa. Through our partnership with BII, this new trade finance facility further empowers local businesses – especially those owned or led by women – by providing them with the capital they need to scale, trade, and thrive. This initiative is a testament of our ongoing commitment to economic development as we champion innovation, diversity, and sustainable growth for our communities.”

Trade finance remains one of the most critical but undersupplied tools for driving SME growth across Africa. This facility, by directly linking capital access to gender inclusion metrics, offers a scalable model for development finance with measurable outcomes.

As implementation begins, the success of this partnership will hinge on its ability to move beyond headline commitments and ensure capital reaches those who have historically been overlooked by formal financial systems, particularly women entrepreneurs working at the core of East Africa’s economic engine.