This article was produced with the support of Ecobank
Building on a proven track record across 34 African markets, Ecobank Group will partner with development finance institutions (DFIs), including Proparco, to deploy a $3bn financing commitment aimed at accelerating trade and industrial growth across the continent.
By expanding access to competitive trade finance, the initiative will support key sectors at the heart of Africa’s real economy, including agribusiness, manufacturing and commerce. The strategic deployment of capital is intended to drive structural transformation by supporting sustainable industrialisation, strengthening infrastructure and investing in human capital.
Through enhanced liquidity, guarantees and specialised trade finance instruments, Ecobank will help African businesses secure critical inputs, expand into new markets and strengthen resilience amid increasingly complex global supply chains.
“The Africa-France Impact Coalition marks a fundamental shift toward shared sovereignty and integrated supply chains, and we are proud to drive this vision,” said Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group. “Africa is rising and trading. By leveraging our Paris banking hub and partnerships with DFIs such as Proparco, we are connecting African opportunities with global capital. This initiative is more than a financial commitment. It is a catalyst for trade, investment and talent, the pillars of Africa’s next decade.”
The $3bn commitment reflects growing confidence in Africa’s ability to industrialise, scale production and compete more effectively in global trade, while aligning with the accelerating momentum behind intra-African commerce.
Paris hub to anchor cross-border trade
Central to the initiative is EBISA, Ecobank’s Paris-based banking hub, which will serve as the gateway connecting African businesses with international markets. The platform will support cross-border investment and trade flows while advancing “Made in Africa” and “Co-Made in Africa and France” ecosystems.
Alongside the provision of capital, the initiative places strong emphasis on supporting entrepreneurs, small business owners, young innovators and women-led enterprises that are driving economic transformation across the continent.
Ecobank said the programme will focus on five key priorities: supporting sustainable development across its footprint, improving market access for SMEs and corporates, deepening integration into regional and global value chains, empowering women and youth-led businesses, and strengthening long-term economic resilience.
Through strategic partnerships spanning trade, investment and talent development, Ecobank Group and its Africa-France Impact Coalition partners aim to strengthen Africa’s position in global commerce while advancing inclusive and sustainable growth.