Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking group today announced a landmark $3 billion trade finance commitment over the next 3 years to accelerate intra-African global trade.

The announcement was made during the Africa-Forward Summit in Nairobi, within the framework of the bank’s active engagement in the Africa-France Impact Coalition (AFIC) led under the patronage of H.E. President Macron of France and H.E. President Ruto of Kenya.

This ambitious commitment, specifically designed to build integrated value chains and foster shared economic sovereignty reinforces the group’s unique position as the premier financial gateway connecting Africa and the world.

Building on a proven track record across 34 African markets, Ecobank Group will partner with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), including Proparco, to deploy this $3 billion commitment.

By expanding access to competitive trade finance, the funds will directly fuel the core engines of Africa’s real economy: agribusiness, manufacturing, and general commerce.

This strategic deployment is designed to accelerate the structural transformation of the continent, anchoring future growth in sustainable industrialization, resilient infrastructure, and human capital.

By strengthening liquidity, providing guarantees, and deploying specialized trade instruments, Ecobank will help African businesses secure essential inputs, access new markets, and build resilience within increasingly complex global supply chains.

Chief Executive Officer 9f Ecobank Group, Jeremy Awori said: “The Africa-France Impact Coalition marks a fundamental shift toward shared sovereignty and integrated supply chains, and we are proud to drive this vision.

“Africa is rising and trading. By leveraging our Paris banking hub and partnerships with DFIs like 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”.

This $3 billion commitment signals strong confidence in Africa’s capacity to industrialize, scale production, and participate as a highly competitive partner in global trade, strongly aligning with the moment of intra-Africa trade acceleration.

Strategy gateway through Paris & expected outcomes

Central to this pledge is EBISA, Ecobank’s Paris-based hub, which serves as the critical gateway connecting African enterprises with international markets. EBISA will anchor the cross-border flows that drive both investment and trade, facilitating the “Made in Africa” and “Co-Made in Africa and France” ecosystems.

By focusing not just on capital, but on the entrepreneurs, small business owners, youth innovators, and women-led enterprises that drive the continent forward, Ecobank will deliver measurable impact across five priority dimensions:

Support sustainable development across Ecobank’s expansive footprint; Enhance market access for SMEs and large corporate entities;Deepen integration into regional and global value chains; Empower women and youth-led businesses; Strengthen economic resilience and long-term value creation.

Through strategic collaborations spanning trade, investment and talent, Ecobank Group and its partners in the AFIC are moving the continent forward with confidence, purpose, and impact.