The African Development Bank Group has approved a $125 million equity investment in the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) to strengthen its capacity to provide political risk and credit insurance across Africa, supporting both foreign direct investment and intra-African trade.
The decision, approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors on May 22 and announced June 3, is aimed at expanding ATIDI’s capital base so it can increase the scale of its trade and investment risk mitigation products. These instruments are designed to reduce commercial and political risks that often discourage investment and cross-border trade on the continent.
ATIDI, also known as the African Trade Insurance Agency, provides insurance solutions covering trade, credit, and political risks for businesses and investors operating in its member states. The institution works to improve investor confidence by protecting against risks such as government instability, payment defaults, and other disruptions that can affect projects and trade flows.
African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialisation Solomon Quaynor said the investment aligns with the Bank’s long-term strategy to expand private-sector financing and support regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
ATIDI CEO Manuel Moses described the investment as a milestone in the partnership between both institutions, noting that it will help scale up risk mitigation tools that support Africa’s economic development and cross-border investment flows.
ATIDI was established in 2001 with support from the World Bank Group and now has 38 shareholders, including multiple African governments and institutional investors. Since its creation, it has reportedly supported about $93 billion in trade and investment transactions across Africa.
