Ecobank Group and Proparco, a development finance institution and subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group, have signed a €10 million trade finance guarantee agreement to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promote food security in Chad.
The agreement, signed on the first day of the Africa Financial Summit 2025, aims to enhance access to trade finance for Chadian businesses engaged in importing raw materials crucial for local production and industrial growth.
According to a joint statement by both organisations, the facility—structured under the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission (FARM)—is part of a broader initiative launched in 2022 by France in partnership with the European Union, the G7, and the African Union. The FARM programme seeks to address supply disruptions caused by global crises, strengthen food value chains, and build resilience in vulnerable economies.
Under the new arrangement, Ecobank Chad will provide trade guarantees for companies importing essential inputs that are not readily available in the domestic market. This intervention is expected to stimulate local manufacturing, create jobs, and support the Chadian government’s National Development Plan, which prioritises economic diversification and private-sector growth.
The agreement is also aligned with the Choose Africa programme, a flagship AFD Group initiative designed to empower African entrepreneurs, start-ups, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs with funding solutions and technical support. Through the programme, Proparco and its partners provide financial instruments to local banks and development institutions to expand access to credit across the continent.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ecobank Group Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Awori, described the partnership as a demonstration of Ecobank’s long-term commitment to driving Africa’s economic transformation.
“This renewed partnership with Proparco reflects our shared goal of strengthening the economic resilience of Chad and the wider region. By facilitating access to essential raw materials, we are contributing to local industrialisation, food security, and value creation across the continent,” Awori said.
“Leveraging the combined expertise of Ecobank’s pan-African network and Ecobank International in France, we will continue to support our customers through efficient trade facilitation and sound risk management practices that promote sustainable growth.”
Also commenting on the agreement, Proparco’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Djalal Khimdjee, said the new partnership would deepen the organisation’s collaboration with Ecobank, which began in 2018, and further expand the reach of trade finance to underserved markets.
“We are delighted to welcome Ecobank Chad into the Trade Finance Programme that we co-developed with the Ecobank Group seven years ago. This partnership will enable local businesses to import critical raw materials, integrate more effectively into global value chains, and meet local community needs,” Khimdjee said.
“With this transaction, the total volume of trade finance guarantees extended to the Ecobank Group since 2018 has now reached €125 million.”
Industry experts have praised the initiative, saying it will not only enhance access to finance for SMEs but also improve productivity and supply chain resilience in Chad’s agribusiness and manufacturing sectors.
Ecobank, a leading pan-African financial institution operating in 35 African countries, continues to partner with international development finance institutions to promote sustainable economic growth and cross-border trade across the continent.
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Ecobank, Proparco Seal €10m Trade Finance Deal to Boost SMEs, Food Security in Chad
Share Ecobank Group and Proparco, a development finance institution and subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group, have signed a €10 million trade finance guarantee agreement to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promote food security in Chad. The agreement, signed on the first day of the Africa Financial Summit 2025, aims…
