Afreximbank is a supranational financial institution whose purpose is to facilitate, promote and expand intra- and extra-African trade. The Bank was initially established under the Agreement for the Establishment of the African Export-Import Bank between 27 states and multilateral institutions, made in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire on 8 May 1993. As at 31 March 2017, the number of Participating States was 43.