The African Development Bank and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) have signed a Letter of Intent aimed at facilitating Balance Sheet Optimization in line with the G-20's recommendations on capital adequacy frameworks for Multilateral Development Banks.
New initiatives and instruments will promote the exchange of knowledge regarding financial instruments and development financing practices, as well as institutional capacity building, ultimately contributing to economic growth and social welfare in the member countries of both institutions. The Bank Group and CABEI also expressed their intention to continue working closely together, with a view to signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the near future, to enhance collaboration between the two institutions.
The agreement was signed in Washington D.C., on the sidelines of the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group, by Hassatou N'Sele, Vice President of Finance and CFO of the African Development Bank Group and Gisela Sánchez, Executive President of CABEI.
"The signing of this Letter of Intent marks the beginning of a significant strategic partnership between CABEI and the AfDB, which we are confident will be strengthened in the near future through the implementation of initiatives of mutual interest and benefit, including the eventual structuring of an Exposure Exchange Agreement (EEA) and participation as investors in bond issuances, among other forms of cooperation," Sánchez noted.
N'Sele said the signing marked the first milestone in deepening collaboration between CABEI and the African Development Bank.
"Given our similar sovereign risk profiles and a positive experience working together in benchmark issuances, we believe there is strong potential for meaningful mutual benefits as we continue to strengthen this partnership," she said.
About CABEI:
CABEI is a multilateral development bank with a 64-year history and 15 member countries, including all the countries of Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic; Belize, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Cuba in the Americas; Spain in Europe; and the Republic of Korea and the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Asia. Over the past 20 years, projects financed by CABEI have accounted for approximately 50% of the funds provided by multilateral development banks to the Central American region.
CABEI holds ratings of AA+ with a Stable outlook and A1+ from S&P (November 2025), Aa3 with a Positive outlook and P1 from Moody's (August 2025), and AA with a Positive outlook from JCR (April 2025), and aims to leverage its financial strength and core competencies to catalyze positive transformation in the countries it serves.Website: https://www.bcie.org/
