The Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group) has marked 40 years of operations, celebrating four decades of financing trade, regional integration, and sustainable development across Africa.
The milestone was commemorated earlier this month during a high-level cocktail reception held at the Kampala Serena Hotel, which brought together senior government officials, development partners, private-sector leaders, and captains of industry.
Uganda’s Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, delivered the keynote address, praising the bank’s growth and contribution to Africa’s development agenda.
“TDB Group’s 40th anniversary is more than a celebration of longevity; it is an opportunity to reflect on an institution that has continually evolved to meet Africa’s development needs,” Dr. Ggoobi said.
“From its origins as PTA Bank, TDB Group has grown into a world-class development finance institution that is central to regional integration.”
TDB Group was founded in 1985 by member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and has since evolved into a specialised African regional development finance group.
Today, the institution operates across all African sub-regions through multiple strategic business units and subsidiaries, positioning itself as a key driver of home-grown development financing.
Uganda, one of the bank’s founding member states, has been among the major beneficiaries of TDB Group financing. Since its establishment, the Group has invested close to USD 1 billion in Uganda, supporting priority sectors such as energy, agribusiness, manufacturing, infrastructure, banking and financial services, and health.
TDB Group President and Managing Director Admassu Tadesse, together with senior executives including Wegoki Menan, Chief Operating Officer for East Africa, and Mary Kamari, Executive Director of the Trade and Development Fund (TDF), represented the institution at the event.
The celebration also featured the launch of TDB Group’s 40th Anniversary Coffee Table Book, which chronicles the institution’s growth and impact over the years.
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Kamari said the publication captures the Group’s transformation from a modest regional bank into a development finance group with a balance sheet exceeding USD 10 billion.
“In a fast-changing and often distracting digital environment, TDB Group has remained focused on purposeful communication,” she said. “This book tells our story of impact, reform, and transformation with depth and clarity.”
The ruby anniversary celebrations are being held under the theme “Innovating Solutions to Accelerate Sustainable Development,” underscoring the Group’s focus on innovation-driven financing.
As it enters its fifth decade, TDB Group says it remains committed to scaling up development finance, deepening regional economic integration, and supporting sustainable growth across Africa.
