The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Ecobank Centrafrique have formalised a €5 million trade finance guarantee facility aimed at enhancing industrialisation and private sector expansion in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The agreement was signed in Bangui on 29 April 2026 by Mamadou Coulibaly, Head of the AfDB Country Office in CAR, and Félix Landry Ndjoumé, Managing Director of Ecobank Centrafrique. The signing was witnessed by Richard Filakota, Minister for the Economy, Planning and International Cooperation and the AfDB’s Governor for CAR, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Central African States, the private sector, and development partners.
The facility targets trade finance to support imports important for industrial inputs, agricultural machinery, and telecommunications equipment. Its focus is on agro-industry and light manufacturing sectors, aligning with ongoing efforts to expand industrial capacity and improve trade finance accessibility for businesses in the country.
According to Mamadou Coulibaly, this collaboration underscores the AfDB’s dedication to fostering private sector development in the Central African Republic in partnership with government entities. The guarantee is expected to enable Ecobank Centrafrique to better support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by securing foreign trade financing and facilitating import activities necessary for industrial and economic growth.
Félix Landry Ndjoumé emphasised that the facility aligns with Ecobank Group’s strategy to reinforce international trade finance capabilities, thus enhancing support for Central African businesses. This marks the first formal cooperation between Ecobank Centrafrique and the AfDB Group in the region.
Beyond private sector benefits, the agreement is anticipated to increase government revenues through import duties as trade volumes grow. This financial boost could further support national development goals and public finances.
The guarantee facility supports the Central African Republic’s National Development Plan 2024–2028, which prioritises the private sector as a key engine for economic transformation, job creation, and inclusive growth. Enhanced access to trade finance is expected to stimulate commercial activity and industrial expansion consistent with these objectives.
This joint initiative represents a coordinated effort to address trade financing barriers and enable a more diversified and resilient economy in the Central African Republic, where industrial development has significant potential to drive economic progress in the coming years.