Kampala, December 23, 2025 — The Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group) has marked four decades of advancing trade, regional integration and sustainable development across Africa, with a high-level commemorative reception held at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

The event drew senior government officials, development partners, and private sector leaders, underscoring the Bank’s growing influence in Africa’s development finance landscape. Uganda’s Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, delivered the keynote address, commending TDB Group for its institutional growth and long-term development impact.

Founded in 1985 by member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), TDB, formerly PTA Bank has evolved into a specialised African regional development finance group with operations spanning all sub-regions of the continent.

Over the years, the institution has expanded its footprint and diversified its operations through a number of subsidiaries and strategic business units, positioning itself as a key player in home-grown development financing.

TDB Group President and Managing Director, Mr Admassu Tadesse, led the Group’s delegation to the anniversary event, alongside the Chief Operating Officer for East Africa, Mr Wegoki Menan, and the Executive Director of the Trade and Development Fund (TDF), Ms Mary Kamari, among other senior executives.

Uganda, one of the Bank’s founding member states, has been a major beneficiary of TDB Group financing. Since its inception, the Group has channelled close to USD 1 billion into Uganda, supporting priority sectors such as energy, agribusiness, manufacturing, infrastructure, banking and financial services, and health.

In his address, Dr Ggoobi described the anniversary as both a celebration and a moment of reflection.

“This milestone is not merely commemorative; it offers an opportunity to reflect on TDB Group’s institutional evolution and its enduring commitment to Africa’s development,” he said.

“From its beginnings as PTA Bank, TDB Group has grown into a world-class development finance institution that is central to regional integration.”

The event also featured the launch of TDB Group’s 40th Anniversary Coffee Table Book, which documents the institution’s transformation and development impact over the years. Ms Kamari said the publication captures the Group’s journey from its modest beginnings to its current status as a development finance group with a balance sheet exceeding USD 10 billion.

“In a fast-moving and often distracting digital environment, TDB Group has remained a strategic communicator,” she said. “This book allows us to tell our story of impact with depth and purpose, highlighting the reforms undertaken over the past decade and our transformation into a diversified financial group.”

The ruby anniversary celebrations are being held under the theme “Innovating Solutions to Accelerate Sustainable Development,” reflecting TDB Group’s mandate and operating philosophy. As it enters its fifth decade, the Group says it will continue to scale up development financing, promote regional economic integration, and support sustainable growth across Africa, including in Uganda.

About TDB Group

Established in 1985, the Trade and Development Bank Group is an African regional multilateral development bank mandated to finance and promote trade, regional economic integration and sustainable development.

The Group operates through several subsidiaries and strategic units, including Trade and Development Banking, TDB Asset Management, the Trade and Development Fund, TDB Captive Insurance Company, ESATAL, and TDB Academy.