Exim GEM

completed

_x000C_Exim (the Bank) was established in August 1997 in Dar es Salaam, when Tanzania began liberalizing its banking sector. The Bank was started by five local industrialist/entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity in lending to SMEs, hitherto underserved by the large foreign banks that dominate the banking industry in the country. With total assets of $206 million and a capital base of approximately $14 million as at 30th September 2006, today Exim ranks as the largest of the mid tier banks, and second largest among the local private banks after Cooperative & Rural Development Bank (CRDB). The Bank has grown from a one branch operation at inception to ten branches, covering all the major commercial cities (Dar es Salaam (four branches), Arusha, Mtwara, Morogoro, Tanga, Mwanza and Moshi) in the country. The objective of the project is: - to support increased lending to women entrepreneurs; - to assist Exim to develop a competitive edge, being the first bank in Tanzania to target the women’s market; - to stimulate the supply and demand for financial services to this segment that remains underserved.