By UBA Signs MOU With China Development Bank, Moves To Improve SMEs Development
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, today moved higher in its quest to boost Small Medium Enterprises as it signed a memorandum of understanding with China Development Bank (CDB), the world’s largest development finance institution.
In a statement released by the UBA Group on Wednesday, it disclosed that the $100 million loan will enhance the Bank’s capacity to provide access to finance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the 19 countries where it currently operates. It added that the deal with the Chinese bank will cover the whole of Africa in the development of SMEs.
The statement quoted the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, as saying, “We are excited to partner with China Development Bank (CDB), the Development Financial Institution of the Chinese Government, on this historic transaction, as we strongly believe that the facility will serve as a catalyst to the sustainable development of commerce and industry in Africa through provision of critical financial interventions to SMEs across our presence countries,”
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Chairman of UBA Group Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu stated that the fund will boost small and medium scale enterprises across Africa, noting that CDB’s interest in supporting SMEs aligns with UBA’s vision in growing business across Africa.
“In UBA, CDB would have an enduring partner in reaching out to Africans as UBA provides banking services to over 14 million people across 20 African countries, and like CDB, UBA funds critical infrastructural projects on the continent “ Elumelu said.
He expressed that he would like to see an even stronger relationship grow with CDB and UBA as well as with China and Nigeria.
Also commenting, the President of CDB, Mr. Zheng Zhijie, said the agreement is the beginning of cooperation between UBA and CDB that would translate into an enduring business relationship between China and Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Mr Zhije said, “UBA is a leading and dependable bank not only in Nigeria but Africa, and this partnership will help our Bank to accelerate its business objectives in Africa, more importantly as we deepen our investment in energy, road and rail constructions, infrastructure in Africa.”
UBA, Africa’s global bank, is one of the largest commercial banks in Nigeria incorporated which operates in 19 African countries whilst providing a wide range of products and services. UBA is a leading bank in infrastructure financing particularly in the Power, Telecoms and Transport sectors. UBA leads in social infrastructure such as hospital and education facilities to various countries in Africa. In Nigeria, the bank operates in each of the country’s 36 states, helping to deepen financial inclusion through its brick and mortar network as well as through its cutting edge digital platforms. Globally, UBA has over 1,000 branches and customer touch points, serving over 14 million customers.
CDB, funded in 1994, is the world’s largest development finance institution and, the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation. CDB provides medium-to-long-term financing facilities that serve China’s major long-term economic and social development strategies. By the end of 2016, its assets grew to RMB 14.34 trillion, a balance of loans of RMB 10.32 trillion. CDB currently has 37 primary branches and 3 secondary branches on the Chinese mainland, one offshore branch in Hong Kong and five representative offices in Cairo, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Caracas and London
