CRDB Bank Group has made history by listing its landmark green bond on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE), becoming one of the first commercial banks in Sub-Saharan Africa to have a domestically issued green bond admitted on LuxSE and displayed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX), the world’s leading sustainable finance platform.

Known as the Kijani bond, the Swahili word for “green”, the 171.8bn/- (equivalent to USD 65.7 million) million bond issuance admitted on LuxSE’s Securities Official List (LuxSE SOL) marks a significant milestone for CRDB Bank, Tanzania and the broader African continent, as it showcases the growing appetite and capability for climate-resilient investments originating from Africa and reaching global capital markets.

The landmark listing was celebrated during an official Ring the Bell ceremony held at LuxSE on 30 June, and attended by the Group CEO of CRDB Bank Abdulmajid Mussa Nsekela,  Luxembourg Stock Exchange Chief Commercial Officer and Member of the Executive Committee  Arnaud Delestienne, the Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Tanzania to Belgium and Luxembourg Juma Ali Salum, as well as other senior officials from CRDB Bank, LuxSE, and Orbit Securities Tanzania who served as the sponsoring broker for the Kijani Bond issuance.

 “This listing represents more than the culmination of a financial transaction, it marks a new chapter of partnership between Africa and Europe in financing the green transition,” said Abdulmajid Mussa Nsekela, Group CEO of CRDB Bank.

“We are proud to be pioneers in this space, raising the equivalent of USD 65.7 million through our first green bond which was oversubscribed by 429 percent. Today, we take our sustainability journey global, not just to raise funds, but to raise the bar. This is a message to the world: Africa is ready to lead in sustainable finance with innovation, integrity, and ambition.” 

CRDB Bank’s green bond is the first of its kind in Tanzania and one of the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa at the time. 

The funds raised are already being deployed across high-impact sectors such as renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, clean cooking energy, green buildings, sustainable water and sanitation systems, as well as environmentally friendly transport solutions.

“We are honoured to welcome CRDB Bank and its pioneering green bond to the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. This serves as a strong example of how international capital markets can help mobilise funding to ensure access to vital services and accelerate the green transition in Africa, and is a testament to the continent’s increasingly important role in the advancement of sustainable finance,” commented Arnaud Delestienne, Chief Commercial Officer and Member of the Executive Committee at LuxSE.

Speaking at the ceremony, Juma Ali Salum, Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Tanzania to Belgium and Luxembourg, commended CRDB Bank’s leadership in sustainability: “Today’s listing is a proud moment for Tanzania and a proof to our nation’s commitment to the global climate agenda under the visionary leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. CRDB Bank’s Kijani Bond reflects Tanzania’s ambition to be a model of inclusive, climate-resilient growth. This is a powerful demonstration of Africa’s readiness to partner on a greener global future.”

As an accredited entity of the United Nations Green Climate Fund (UN-GCF), CRDB Bank continues to position itself as a leader in sustainable finance across East and Central Africa. 

The admission of the Kijani Bond on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange amplifies CRDB Bank’s access to global capital while strengthening its impact on the ground. 

CRDB Bank’s green bond has already empowered thousands of women and youth-led businesses, supported climate-smart farming, and improved livelihoods across Tanzania.