• Afreximbank Launch Africa Due Diligence Platform –Mansa Launched in Zanzibar

Video Mansa: https://youtu.be/HLxi9hwGVbo

Monday, 8^th November 2021 Zanzibar: Mr. Ali Amour, Chairman, Zanzibar National Chambers of Commerce(ZNCC), Mrs. Maureen Mba, Head Mansa Business, Afreximbank joined by Mr. Hamad Hamad, Executive Director of ZNCC, Ms. Farida Mukasa Kasujja, Manager  Client Relations East Africa Afreximbank and Mr. Adrian Njau, EABC Trade & Policy Advisor officially launched the African Due Diligence Platform in Zanzibar.

The Chief Guest, Mr. Ali Amour, Chairman, Zanzibar National Chambers of Commerce(ZNCC) said “the AfCFTA is landmark Agreement by Africa, for Africa and Africans”

He said full implementation of AfCFTA will create 14 million decent new jobs in the manufacturing sector, boost intra-African trade by 52%  and the continent’s GDP by USD450 billion.

He emphasized the beginning point of trading is establishing trust between buyers and sellers, financiers and borrowers, the public and private sectors.

In his remarks, Mr. John Bosco Kalisa, EABC CEO represented by Mr. Adrian Njau, Trade & Policy Advisor of EABC said, “AfCFTA is intended to break trade barriers. Intra-Africa trade stands at only 16%, which implies that African countries need to trade more with each other.”

He stated that the EAC bloc should boost the industrial productive capacity and urged for more industrial parks to be established in Zanzibar to boost exports to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

On her part, Mrs. Maureen Mba, Head Mansa Business, Afreximbank said the Peoples Bank of Zanzibar is a shareholder of Afreximbank. She stated that  Afrieximbank as a developmental institution is set to promote intra-Africa trade and exports from the continent.

She said more robust information about African entities is required to transform Africa’s trade, enhance business to business partnerships among SMEs, Corporates, investors and financial institutions.

She said the Mansa platform has three pillars namely: Customer Due Diligence, Investing in Africa and News & events and she urged businesses to onboard to the Mansa platform.

Mr. Hamad Hamad, Executive Director of Zanzibar National Chambers of Commerce (ZNCC) lauded EABC & Afreximbank for rolling out the African Due Diligence Platform Mansa platform in Zanzibar.

Mr. Hamad said Zanzibar business leaders are committed to being ambassadors of Mansa and invite traders, manufacturers, investors, farmers on the island to register to the platform.

In her presentation, Mrs. Gamuchirai Moyo, Consultant Mansa explained how the Mansa platform is the gateway to trade and investment in Africa.

Ms. Farida Mukasa Kasujja, Manager  Client Relations East Africa Afreximbank said, ”Zanzibar has a high potential for export of products such as spices, is a leading tourism destination in the world.”  She stated that Afreximbank provides export loan guarantees to facilitate businesses to acquire long-term export contracts.

In his closing remarks, the Chairman of Manufacturers Council of Zanzibar appreciated Afreximbank, EABC and ZNCC the informative event that has enabled Zanzibar businesses to gain insight and to ably tap into the opportunities availed by the AfCFTA through the  Mansa platform.

The launch was attended by over 100 industry captains and leading women in business from Manufacturers Council of Zanzibar, Zanzibar Freight Forwarders Bureau, Hotel Associations of Zanzibar, Zanzibar Association of Tour Operators, Exporters Association of Zanzibar, Lawyer Associations based in Zanzibar.

The MANSA digital platform provides a single primary source of Know-Your-Customer (KYC) data required to conduct customer diligence checks on counterparties in Africa with a special focus on African Corporates, SMEs and financial institutions. The MANSA digital platform reduces risks to intra-African trade such as increased financial crime and reduces the high-cost acquisition of Customer Due Diligence.

For more information visit:https://www.mansaafrica.com