Tanzania bank shortlisted for African Awards

Dar es Salaam. Exim Bank, Tanzania’s sixth largest bank by total assets and deposits, has been shortlisted for the “Best Retail Bank in Africa” in African Banker Awards 2013.
Other banks shortlisted for the same category include Morocco’s Banque Centrale Populaire, Rwanda’s Compagnie Generale de Banque Ltd, Burkina Faso’s Coris Bank and Togo’s Ecobank Transnational.
African Banker Awards is one of the biggest landmark annual events that recognises and celebrates the achievements of Africa’s banking and financial sector.
A statement issued by Exim Bank’s managing director, Mr Anthony Grant yesterday said the short-listing is a great honor for the country as a whole.
He attributed the recognition to the bank’s investments in tailor-made services as well as in its accomplishments at its affiliates in Comoros and Djibouti.
“We are happy to represent Tanzania in Africa at such a prestigious awards….our submission had also cited retail banking accomplishments at the Exim Bank affiliates in Comoros and Djibouti and that may also have played a role,” he said.
Commenting on this year’s entries Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker magazine, said: “I remain a staunch defender of the positive role banking institutions can play. The two biggest listed companies in China are both financial institutions and they play a critical role in the economy. The same can be said about many banks in Africa. The entries seem to get better year after year.
“The variety of entries and the quality of these entries, especially in the Deal of the Year category, illustrate the increased sophistication and the growing investment banking activity across Africa, and that can only be encouraging. Through the awards we are trying to create a benchmark and to promote best practice.
Yedder said the awards committee was highly encouraged by the examples of leadership, innovation and dynamism highlighted in this year’s entries.’
The African Banker Awards is organised by African Banker magazine, IC Events and Business in Africa Events. It is a landmark event that brings together over 500 key industry players and top government officials from Africa and around the world to celebrate excellence and best practices in African banking and finance.
A distinguished and independent panel of judges, known and respected for their expertise on the African banking and finance industry, will decide the final winners of each category.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on the 29th May during the annual African Development Bank (AfDB) meetings in Marrakech, Morocco. Last year’s awards were held in Arusha during the annual AfDB meetings.