Ecobank unveils $3 billion programme to support intra-African trade

Agriculture

Monday, 01 June 2026 18:10

Ecobank unveils $3 billion programme to support intra-African trade

(Togo First) - The pan-African banking group, headquartered in Lomé, will use the funds over three years to finance intra-African trade. The announcement, made on the sidelines of the Africa Forward summit and the 2026 Africa CEO Forum, coincided with the signing of a series of first-of-their-kind partnerships in the agro-industrial sector.

Ecobank has announced a $3 billion financing programme to support intra-African trade over three years. The initiative, unveiled at the Africa Forward summit, is intended to accelerate implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Lomé-based banking group said the programme has a dual objective: boosting trade within Africa and strengthening cross-border commercial networks against global economic shocks.

Partnership with AGRA to support agriculture

For the pan-African lender, expanding trade also requires developing the agricultural sector, which remains a cornerstone of many sub-Saharan economies. At a meeting in Nairobi, Ecobank formalized a strategic partnership with AGRA, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

The partnership aims to reduce lending risks and improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises in eleven African countries, with a particular focus on women and young entrepreneurs. By linking Ecobank's Ellevate banking programme with AGRA's Value4HER and YEFFA platforms, the bank aims to professionalize agricultural value chains and help move the sector beyond subsistence farming toward commercially viable, investment-ready activities.

$35.2 million programme with Proparco

Ecobank has also strengthened its partnership with Proparco, the private-sector financing arm of Agence française de développement (AFD).

An initial $35.2 million guarantee programme, structured around the ARIZ and EURIZ mechanisms, has been launched to improve access to credit for micro and small agricultural enterprises. The group said the partnership is expected to support the mobilization of up to $300 million in financing over time.

Expansion into Asian trade corridors

While intra-African integration remains its primary focus, Ecobank is also expanding its international reach. The bank is targeting opportunities arising from growing trade flows between Africa and both China and India.

The group said strengthening its presence along these Asian trade corridors will help diversify its long-term funding sources while facilitating international transactions for its clients.

"Africa's growth requires large-scale execution. This is capital actually deployed in the real economy, financing food, livelihoods and local value creation," Ecobank Group Chief Executive Jeremy Awori said.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

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