The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Ecobank Centrafrique have signed a €5 million trade finance transaction guarantee facility agreement to support industrialisation and private sector growth in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The agreement was signed in Bangui on 29 April 2026 by Mamadou Coulibaly, Head of the AfDB's Country Office in the CAR, and Félix Landry Ndjoumé, Managing Director of Ecobank Centrafrique.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister for the Economy, Planning and International Cooperation, Richard Filakota, who also serves as the AfDB's Governor for the Central African Republic. Also present was Yannis-Stéphane Koyangbanda, Special Adviser at the Ministry of Finance and the Budget. Senior representatives from the Bank of Central African States, the private sector and development partners also attended.
The facility is expected to support imports of industrial inputs, agricultural production machinery and telecommunications equipment, with a particular focus on agro-industry and light manufacturing. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to stimulate industrial development and improve access to trade finance for businesses operating in the Central African Republic.
"Through this strategic partnership, the African Development Bank reaffirms its commitment to supporting the development of the Central African private sector, in close collaboration with the government," said Coulibaly.
The facility will strengthen Ecobank Centrafrique's capacity to support small and medium-sized enterprises and industries by securing foreign trade financing, facilitating trade, and supporting economic growth.
"This facility is part of the Ecobank Group's strategy, which aims to strengthen international trade finance and enable more effective support for Central African businesses," Njoumé said, welcoming this first collaboration between Ecobank Centrafrique and the African Development Bank Group.
Beyond its impact on the private sector, the initiative is also expected to contribute to higher government tax revenues, particularly through increased import duties associated with expanded trade activity
This agreement aligns with the Central African Republic's National Development Plan (2024-2028), which identifies the private sector as a key driver of economic transformation, job creation and inclusive growth.
