The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced a $153 million financing package to support its first agribusiness operations in West Africa, marking a significant step in expanding its footprint across the continent’s agricultural sector.
The investment will fund projects in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on strengthening supply chains for key export commodities such as cashew nuts, cocoa, soybeans, and sesame. The move reflects growing international interest in unlocking the region’s agricultural potential by improving access to finance, modernizing processing capacity, and supporting sustainable production practices.
Two major agribusiness groups will benefit from the financing. A $70 million loan has been extended to Robust International to provide working capital for sourcing and trading agricultural commodities across both countries. The funding will also support farmer training programs designed to promote organic certification, fair-trade compliance, and improved farming techniques aimed at raising productivity and incomes.
In a parallel transaction, €70 million (approximately $82.9 million) has been allocated to Valency International to finance the procurement and processing of raw commodities destined for regional and global markets. The project includes technical assistance to enhance climate resilience and governance standards within its operations.
According to EBRD leadership, the initiative represents a milestone in the bank’s strategy to expand into newly eligible economies in West Africa, where agriculture remains a cornerstone of employment and economic activity. Odile Renaud-Basso emphasized that strengthening agribusiness value chains can help connect farmers to larger markets, stimulate rural development, and attract further private-sector investment.
The financing comes at a time when Côte d’Ivoire continues to consolidate its position as the world’s leading cashew producer, with output exceeding one million tonnes annually and processing capacity steadily increasing. Expanding local processing is seen as critical to retaining more value within producing countries rather than exporting raw commodities.
By entering the West African agrifood space, the EBRD aims to catalyze broader investment flows, support sustainable trade, and help build more resilient agricultural systems. The bank expects these first deals to pave the way for additional partnerships and financing opportunities across the region’s fast-growing agribusiness landscape.
