The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) brought together leading representatives of central banks, development finance institutions, commercial banks, institutional investors and risk insurers at the West Africa–Asia Capital Dialogue in Bangkok, Thailand, on 15 October 2026. Held on the sidelines of the World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings, the event underscored EBID’s commitment to expanding strategic investment partnerships and mobilising long-term capital for West Africa’s development priorities.
The dialogue served as a strategic platform to deepen financial cooperation between Asia and West Africa, accelerate investment flows into bankable projects and unlock new opportunities across infrastructure, energy, industrialisation, trade, agribusiness and other sectors that are critical to the region’s economic transformation and regional integration. While Asia remains one of Africa’s most important trading partners, significant opportunities exist to deepen investment and financial cooperation in support of West Africa’s economic ambitions.
Representing the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID, Dr George Agyekum Donkor, the Bank’s Vice-President in charge of Risk and Control, Dr Mory Soumahoro, highlighted the growing demand for long-term development finance in West Africa and stressed the importance of connecting Asian pools of capital with the region’s expanding pipeline of investment-ready projects.
In his remarks, Dr Soumahoro highlighted EBID’s unique role as the development finance institution of the West African States, serving as a trusted partner in project identification, structuring, financing and risk mitigation. He emphasised the Bank’s capacity to originate, structure and finance high-impact projects while leveraging its strong regional footprint to mitigate risks and crowd in private and institutional capital.
Discussions focused on innovative financing solutions, blended finance structures, risk-sharing mechanisms and co-financing opportunities aimed at increasing investment volumes and improving access to capital for transformational projects across West Africa.
The initiative aligns with EBID’s broader strategy to diversify its funding base, strengthen international partnerships and expand access to innovative financing solutions. As the region’s development finance institution, EBID continues to bridge global capital with high-impact investment opportunities that support economic diversification, industrial development, job creation and regional value chains.
