FSDEA And TDB Group Sign Cooperation Agreement To Bolster Angola’s Export Capacity And Infrastructure Financing Via A Novel Facility

The Angola Sovereign Wealth Fund (FSDEA) and the Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at establishing the Angola Export and Trade Development Facility — a new vehicle designed to stimulate exports, attract regional capital, and strengthen Angola’s role in Africa’s trade and industrial transformation.

More specifically, the MoU will enable the institutions to structure and operationalise the facility and mobilise investment, with fund management activities to be undertaken under TDB Group.

The signing ceremony took place on the 28th of October during the Luanda Summit on Financing for Infrastructure Development in Africa, co-hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), under the patronage of H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union.

A Milestone for Economic Diversification

This cooperation marks a new phase in Angola’s diversification agenda, combining the financial capacity of the FSDEA with TDB Group’s extensive regional experience in project finance, trade development, and investment management.

The Angola Export and Trade Development Facility will mobilise funds for strategic sectors such as:

• Agro-industrial exports and value chains
• Infrastructure and logistics platforms
• Manufacturing and industrial processing
• Regional trade and capital markets integration

By establishing this platform, the FSDEA reinforces its mission to transform sovereign capital into productive investment, generating wealth and sustainable employment across Angola.

Financial Strength and Regional Capacity of TDB Group

TDB Group enters the partnership backed by strong financial fundamentals, an extensive regional footprint on the continent, and expertise in attracting institutional investors in trade finance funds that generate both competitive returns and impact. With assets of US$ 10 billion as at the end of 2024, TDB Group serves dozens of countries in all African sub-regions, including Angola. Its audited financial statements for the same period show total shareholder capital and reserves of US$ 2.3 billion and a portfolio of US$ 7.3 billion, growing at a compound annual growth rate of about 6% – underscoring its capital strength and financial resilience.

Strengthening Regional Cooperation

Through this MoU, both institutions will co-create investment solutions that respond to Angola’s priorities while enhancing regional integration, in line with the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“We value our strong and growing partnership with the FSDEA. The new facility we are developing leverages TDB Group’s existing regional infrastructure and trade finance platforms to channel capital, de-risk investments, and unlock private sector participation” said Admassu Tadesse, TDB Group President and Managing Director. “Ultimately, through this new partnership, we look forward to contributing to Angolan sustainable economic development, intra-African trade, and ultimately continental growth”.

Armando Manuel, FSDEA Chairman of the Board of Directors said: “For Angola, this new export and trade development facility will mean access not only to funding, but also to expertise, institutional frameworks, and regional networks essential for scaling exports, integrating value chains, and attracting foreign direct investment. We are pleased to elevate our partnership with TDB Group, which has already yielded impact since we became a TDB Group shareholder in 2024 – following which we have received a US$ 300 loan facility from the Bank to support the FSDEA’s equity contribution in a key fertiliser project in Angola, aimed at enhancing food security in the country and reducing its reliance on import.”

TDB Group has been active in Angola since 2020. As part of TDB Group’s stable of vehicles, ESATF, the African trade fund managed by ESATAL, TDB Group’s wholly owned fund manager, has been active in Angola for now five years, investing in export finance, port infrastructure, as well as medical infrastructure among other areas.