The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is cancelling a series of events which were scheduled around its 27th Annual General Meeting due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The bank has also decided it will hold its shareholders’ meeting by correspondence instead.
Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah said the decision to hold the shareholders’ meeting by correspondence was made following careful consideration of all available options to ensure the bank complies with its governance requirements.
He announced that the seminars component of the 27th Annual Meetings, which were expected to be held from 10 to 13 June in Sharm El-Sheikh have been cancelled. This comes in light of global mobility restrictions and the need to ensure social distancing and other government precautionary measures imposed in light of the pandemic.
“Our priority is to guarantee the wellbeing and comfort of our shareholders and partners, which requires that we comply with health and safety protocols put in place by our host country,” he said.
Oramah explained that these decisions, while difficult, were necessary and in line with the bank’s proactive efforts to combat the pandemic.
“As a leading Pan-African institution, Afreximbank’s response strategy has been to lead by example in taking proactive and timely measures,” he said. “We remain fully dedicated to supporting efforts to mitigate the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on African economies and its people.”
Oramah added that the bank will continue to be at the frontline with bold initiatives, forging global partnerships towards mitigating the health and economic consequences of the pandemic in Africa.
Afreximbank Annual Meetings are among the Bank’s most prominent events among global banking industry professionals, trade and trade finance practitioners and other parties involved in economic development. They are also attended by business and political leaders, and have been ranked among the most important gatherings of economic decision-makers in Africa.
