Zenith Bank expands global network with Paris branch

Zenith Bank Plc has expanded its global footprint with the opening of Zenith Bank (UK), Paris Branch. The official commissioning, which took place on Wednesday, November 27, at 21 Rue de la Paix, Paris, France, was performed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.

The opening of Zenith Bank, Paris, a third-country branch (TCB) of Zenith Bank (UK), a subsidiary of Zenith Bank, represents a key milestone in the bank’s global growth strategy and underscores its commitment to serving customers in the European region. Dignitaries at the ceremony include the Governor of Kwara state and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-olu; Governor of Ogun state,
Adedapo Abiodun and the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah.

Others are Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu; Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Chief Executive Officer/Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Nonye Ayeni.

The event highlighted the bank’s commitment to delivering exceptional financial solutions and fostering economic growth across the globe.The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dr Adaora Umeoji, thanked the Founder and Chairman, Dr Jim Ovia, for his inspiration and vision in setting up an award-winning and record-breaking brand.

She also highlighted the rationale for the bank’s strategic move to Paris.

“The opening of this Paris branch is part of the broad strategy of the Bank to extend its footprints across the major global financial centres and our efforts at following our customers’ businesses. Paris branch opening underpins the need to serve our customers and bolster trade and finance relationships between our customers in France and other countries.

“Zenith Bank’s expansion into France is a very strategic move as Nigeria accounts for 20 per cent of France’s trade with Sub-saharan Africa according to the Franco-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) having successfully dominated large parts of Anglophone Africa, we will leverage Zenith Bank’s Paris operations to lead the Francophone market starting from Ivory Coast and Cameroon where we will be establishing subsidiaries very soon.”