Afreximbank has announced a $10 billion programme intended to shield African and Caribbean economies from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East, according to Trade Finance Global. The Gulf Crisis Response Programme was among the financing developments featured in the outlet’s weekly trade briefing, alongside a commodity purchase agreement supporting the restart of a Ghanaian gold mine.
The African Export-Import Bank announced the programme on 7 April, the publication reported. Its stated purpose is to protect economies across the two regions from the effects of the ongoing disruption. The briefing does not give details of how the funding will be allocated or the terms on which it will be available.
In Ghana, Trafigura agreed on 9 April to buy 700,000 ounces of gold doré from the Bogoso-Prestea Gold Mine. Trade Finance Global reported that the commodities trader will also supply $65 million in debt financing to help the mine resume operations after its closure in 2024. The purchase commitment and financing are both part of the reported agreement supporting the restart.
Elsewhere, the publication highlighted an estimated annual investment requirement of $210 billion for South-East Asia’s green transition. It described pollution and the depletion of natural resources accompanying the region’s rapid economic growth, pointing to a mismatch between regional suppliers and Western buyers’ growing demand for climate-friendly infrastructure.
The briefing also identified a change in India’s approach to free trade agreements. According to Trade Finance Global, recent agreements favour partners with established economic connections to India and economies that complement its capabilities in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, services and energy processing.
Trade finance modernisation was another theme. The outlet reported that a closing panel at the 2026 BAFT Europe Forum in London examined how transaction banking is evolving and whether the industry is prepared for future demands, against a backdrop of pressure on global banks to modernise their trade finance operations.