The African Development Bank and Family Bank have signed a deal to provide a Sh1.3 billion (US$10 million) credit line aimed at easing foreign‑currency financing for Kenyan small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and local corporates.

Eligible firms include those operating in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare and renewable energy, as well as women‑owned businesses seeking to import inputs or expand market reach.

Family Bank will act as the conduit, extending trade financing to qualifying enterprises for import purchases, production inputs and participation in regional supply chains.

The bank’s 2025‑2029 strategy targets scaling tailored financing for micro, small and medium‑sized enterprises, especially those owned or led by women, which form over 80 % of its customer base.

AfDB’s East Africa Director General Alex Mubiru highlighted that the line of credit is intended to become a “line of opportunity” for businesses that produce, trade and create jobs across Kenya.

The initiative responds to a chronic shortage of trade finance, which the AfDB’s 2025 Trade Finance Report estimates at $92 billion globally in 2024, with SMEs disproportionately affected.

By expanding access to foreign‑currency credit through a local lender, the facility aims to help Kenyan firms finance imports, sustain production and pursue growth beyond the domestic market.