KIGALI, May 19 – Mauritius Commercial Bank plans to deploy $1 billion over the next four years to finance intra-African trade and regional value chains, as African business leaders intensify calls for deeper economic integration and private sector-led growth.
Thierry Hebraud, chief executive officer of Mauritius Commercial Bank, said the initiative is designed to support African companies trading and manufacturing within the continent rather than relying heavily on commodity exports and imported finished products.
“We have just launched an envelope of $1 billion for the next four years, which will favor the intra-trade Africa financing with specific and favorable conditions for our clients developing their intra-trade.” Thierry Hebraud said.
The financing program will offer favorable conditions for businesses involved in regional trade and industrial projects across Africa.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum, Hebraud said Africa’s long-term economic transformation agenda remains intact despite growing geopolitical and energy-market disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
“We have to disconnect what is going to happen in the next quarters from Africa’s long-term transformation agenda,” he said.
Hebraud warned that higher global energy costs and disruptions to oil and gas supply chains are likely to increase inflationary pressure across African economies over the coming year.
However, he argued that the continent’s structural advantages including critical minerals, agricultural land and renewable energy potential position Africa as a key player in the global energy transition and industrial economy.
Africa holds roughly 30% of the world’s critical minerals and rare earth resources, while the Democratic Republic of Congo alone accounts for about 74% of global cobalt production, according to Hebraud.
He said African economies must move beyond exporting raw commodities and instead focus on local processing, industrialization and regional manufacturing integration.
“Africa is exporting raw materials and importing finished products,” Hebraud said. “That model needs to change.”
The bank’s financing strategy will prioritize sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, energy and logistics infrastructure that support intra-African commerce.
Hebraud cited textile trade between Madagascar and South Africa as an example of the kind of regional value chains the bank aims to support.
He also emphasized the importance of infrastructure investment, including rail systems, logistics corridors and energy projects needed to unlock industrial growth and improve trade connectivity across African markets.
The executive said renewable energy projects including solar, hydro and geothermal power remain central to the bank’s financing agenda alongside selective support for oil and gas infrastructure.
Hebraud argued that development finance institutions will continue to play a critical role in providing long-term funding for infrastructure projects, noting that many African commercial banks still face limited access to long-duration capital and foreign-currency financing.
African governments are increasingly pushing for stronger regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area as they seek to reduce dependence on external markets and strengthen internal supply chains.
Business leaders say improving infrastructure, simplifying cross-border trade regulations and expanding access to financing will be critical to accelerating Africa’s industrial transformation.
