Afreximbank and BAFT Deliver Virtual Training Workshops on Correspondent Banking in Africa

 

Cairo/Washington 26 July 2021 – African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) today announced the launch of a series of training workshops for African respondent banks to enhance their ability to obtain and maintain correspondent banking relationships.

The first round of workshops, to be held virtually on 27, 28 and 29 July 2021, is primarily geared toward compliance and risk management staff, as well as transaction banking business line and credit officers from private sector and central banks across Africa.

In the current context where access to correspondent banking services is becoming increasingly costly due to heightened regulatory expectations, particularly in relation to Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing, the three-day training sessions will provide an overview of important elements to be considered by respondent banks when establishing new correspondent banking relationships. Attendees will participate in in-depth discussions on respondent best practices for due diligence, maintaining relationships, and working with money service businesses and Fintech companies.

Afreximbank has identified BAFT as a strategic partner in this initiative, utilising the BAFT Respondent Playbook, the industry leading approach to capacity building.

“We are thrilled to launch such an important capacity building initiative in cooperation with Afreximbank in markets deeply affected by correspondent banking de-risking,” said Tod Burwell, BAFT president and CEO. “We hope that participants gain new knowledge and insight on ways to strengthen relationships with correspondent banks.”

“As part of Afreximbank’s Correspondent Banking and Trade Services Strategy, we have been supporting banks in our member states to have access to international banking market by providing them with trade finance lines and Advisory Services. Improving the capacity of African banks to enable them to access correspondent banking services is also key part of our mandate and capacity building is a major activity in this regard,” said Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President in charge of Finance, Administration and Banking Services.

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 Joint Statement on Cuba

07/26/2021 07:30 AM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following statement was released by the Governments of Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Guatemala, Greece, Honduras, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, and the United States of America.

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We, the Foreign Ministers of Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Guatemala, Greece, Honduras, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Republic of Korea, and Ukraine, and the United States Secretary of State, condemn the mass arrests and detentions of protestors in Cuba and call on the government to respect the universal rights and freedoms of the Cuban people, including the free flow of information to all Cubans.

On July 11, tens of thousands of Cuban citizens participated in peaceful demonstrations across the country to protest deteriorating living conditions and to demand change.  They exercised universal freedoms of expression and assembly, rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the American Convention on Human Rights, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and the European Convention on Human Rights.

We call on the Cuban government to respect the legally guaranteed rights and freedoms of the Cuban people without fear of arrest and detention.  We urge the Cuban government to release those detained for exercising their rights to peaceful protest.  We call for press freedom and for the full restoration of Internet access, which allows economies and societies to thrive.  We urge the Cuban government to heed the voices and demands of the Cuban people.

The international community will not waver in its support of the Cuban people and all those who stand up for the basic freedoms all people deserve.

 

To view this message online, click here.

Celebrate International Day of Friendship with us

Dear Ayoub, This Friday we are celebrating the simplest form of human connection – friendship. The women in our programme are sadly no strangers to violence, poverty and inequality. The power of sisterhood contributes towards breaking this cycle. Together, we can create a world that is more peaceful and prosperous for women everywhere. Sisterhood is at the heart of sponsorship: sponsors and their sisters are able to form a bond that transcends continents. This sends a powerful message of support to your sister that says – you are not alone. Women like Eugenie, who has kindly shared the letter she sent to her sponsor with me.

SPONSOR A SISTER

 

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. U.S. Leadership on Human Rights and Ending Systemic Racism 07/13/2021 09:27 PM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State This Administration is deeply dedicated to addressing racial injustice and inequities at home and abroad. On the global stage, the United States is leading by example. Last month, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report on racism and police brutality against Africans and people of African descent at the hands of law enforcement around the world, which includes examination of such cases in the United States. As the President has repeatedly made clear, great nations such as ours do not hide from our shortcomings; they acknowledge them openly and strive to improve with transparency. In so doing, we not only work to set the standard for national responses to these challenges, we also strengthen our democracy, and give new hope and motivation to human rights defenders across the globe. It is in this context that the United States intends to issue a formal, standing invitation to all UN experts who report and advise on thematic human rights issues. As a first step, we have reached out to offer an official visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism and the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues. I also welcome the UN Human Rights Council’s adoption today in Geneva of a resolution to address systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the context of law enforcement. I look forward to engaging with the new mechanism to advance racial justice and equity. Responsible nations must not shrink from scrutiny of their human rights record; rather, they should acknowledge it with the intent to improve. I urge all UN member states to join the United States in this effort, and confront the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia. Because when all people – regardless of their race or ethnicity – are free to live up to their full potential, our collective security is strengthened

 U.S.-Russia Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Challenge

07/15/2021 10:04 AM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

Joint Statement on the Climate Challenge between John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Russian Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues and Adviser to the President of Russia.

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Russian Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues Ruslan Edelgeriyev recognize ‎the need to address the increasing climate challenge with seriousness and urgency.  They are committed to the robust implementation of the Paris Agreement and its temperature goals, including through significant efforts in this decade and the global pursuit of net-zero emissions, recognizing the importance of enhancing carbon sequestration by forests and other ecosystems.  They will work together and with others to actively promote a successful COP 26 in Glasgow, UK, and a G20 that contributes to such success.  In addition, they will cooperate on climate-related issues in the Arctic.

They also intend to work together bilaterally on a range of climate-related issues.  Topics will include, among others, satellite monitoring of emissions and removals of greenhouse gases; forests and agriculture‎; climate and the Arctic, including black carbon; reducing emissions from non-CO₂ gases, including methane; enhanced nationally determined contributions and long-term strategies under the Paris Agreement; energy efficiency; climate finance; nature-based solutions; and implementation of joint climate projects.

 .S.-EU Dialogue on Nonproliferation, Disarmament, Arms Control and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation

07/15/2021 01:54 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The United States and the European Union’s External Action Service held another meeting this week in their ongoing dialogue on nonproliferation, arms control, disarmament, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risk mitigation issues. Ann Ganzer, Senior Official for the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, and Bruce Turner, Senior Official for the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, led discussions on the U.S. side. Marjolijn van Deelen, Special Envoy for Nonproliferation and Disarmament, led for the EEAS.

  

Statue Unveiled Honouring H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou’s Leadership in establishing the AfCFTA

 

 

Accra, 16 July 2021 – The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the African Union (AU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announce the unveiling of a statue in honour of His Excellency Issoufou Mahamadou, former President of the Republic of Niger and African Union Champion of the AfCFTA in Accra, Ghana.

 

The statue is in commemoration of H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou’s pivotal leadership and Pan-African vision in driving the realisation of the AfCFTA. His key achievements in this respect include successfully leading the conclusion of the AfCFTA negotiations as AU Champion for AfCFTA; its entry into force; the launch of the operational phase of the AfCFTA; the 1^st January 2021 start of trading under the AfCFTA; thus being pivotal in placing industrialisation, market liberalisation, economic diversification and economic integration at the centre of the African Union’s agenda.

 

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, said: “His Excellency Issoufou Mahamadou went to great lengths to lead and oversee the establishment and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. This statue provides a lasting commemoration of his pivotal role both for today’s and for future generations of Africans. It represents a symbol for the collective effort and courage of African leaders in achieving that landmark. The AfCFTA provides Africa with immense opportunities for the industrialisation, diversification and economic development that will rapidly accelerate our continent to truly global competitiveness across multiple sectors.”

 

Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank, said: “The AfCFTA is therefore not only the most significant development in Africa since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, but also, the world’s second largest Free Trade Area, after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in terms of the number of member states. The AfCFTA will bring together 55 African countries with over 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of US$3.4 trillion into a single free trade market. It was made possible by the vision, tenacity, courage and commitment of African leaders, the hard work of the African Union Commission and indeed the contributions of many from across the Continent. The AfCFTA provides the launchpad for Africa to genuinely compete as a major global economic powerhouse and substantially raise its market share of both intra-African and world trade in the years and decades ahead.”

 

The statue of H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou is sited at the AfCFTA Secretariat Building in Accra, Ghana, and was commissioned by the AfCFTA Secretariat, Afreximbank, and the African Union Commission.

 

The statue, which was unveiled at a ceremony on 16^th July, is a product of Afreximbank’s Art Programme, which supports and promotes the African contemporary art ecosystem. In this regard, with the assistance of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Mr. Tafadzwa Tandi was selected to sculpt the statue. He used Black Serpentine Stone, relying on an ancient tradition of stone sculpting that can be traced back to the ancient Great Zimbabwe Kingdom (13^th to 15^th Century), which has morphed into a very popular contemporary art movement in Zimbabwe and is recognised all over the world for its craftmanship and skill.

 

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