AFG Bank Guinée, a financial institution that was previously known as Société Générale Guinée, has announced plans to significantly expand its lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The bank, which was acquired by AFG Holding in August 2025, aims to double its SME loan portfolio from 60 to 120 million euros (67.17 to 134.34 million USD) by 2027. In addition, the bank plans to triple the number of SME clients it serves. To support this growth, AFG Bank Guinée has received a 35 million euro loan from Proparco, a development finance institution, which was announced on Wednesday, October 7. This funding is intended to help the bank increase its capacity to provide SME loans and develop new financial products tailored to this segment. The bank's strategy marks a shift from its previous focus on large corporations to a stronger emphasis on SMEs and individual customers. This change aligns with the ongoing development of the Simandou mining project in Guinea, which is expected to generate new financial needs among companies involved in the project. AFG Bank Guinée is specifically targeting businesses in sectors such as transport, catering, energy, food, industry, and green energy. These industries are seen as having strong potential to benefit from increased access to credit. As part of the financing agreement with Proparco, the bank will also have access to a 25 million euro guarantee envelope for trade financing. This will help AFG Bank Guinée build stronger relationships with correspondent banks and support its clients' import operations. The mechanism involves Proparco providing guarantees to international banks, which in turn confirms trade financing instruments issued by AFG Bank Guinée. This is intended to reduce the risk for these banks and facilitate transactions that might otherwise be limited by risk thresholds or the lack of correspondent banking relationships. The bank now faces the challenge of converting these new financing capabilities into actual loan growth. The goal of doubling its SME loan portfolio by 2027 will require a significant increase in the number of clients. Successfully achieving this will depend on the bank's ability to effectively market its new financial products and build trust with a broader range of businesses.