Ecobank RDC, Ecobank Group’s subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and British International Investment (BII) announced on May 12 in Kinshasa a partnership aimed at expanding access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

According to a joint statement, the agreement includes a $30 million risk-sharing facility expected to expand the bank’s lending capacity by allowing it to transfer part of the risk tied to a targeted portfolio of loans to local businesses.

The initiative aims to widen financing opportunities for SMEs seeking to scale up, modernize operations, invest in new capacity or launch new projects. Targeted sectors include agriculture and agro-processing, industry, infrastructure, climate-related projects, renewable energy and local entrepreneurship.

The partnership also includes technical assistance from BII to improve loan portfolio quality, strengthen the operational capacity of participating businesses and support sustainable growth.

Joel Kabuya, acting chief executive of Ecobank’s DRC unit, described the agreement as “a major milestone” for SME financing in the country. He said it would enable the bank to provide long-term support to the private sector while maintaining international standards in risk management and sustainable finance.

Chris Chijiutomi, BII’s managing director for Africa, said SMEs remain “an essential pillar of economic development and job creation” in the DRC but continue to face major obstacles in accessing growth financing.

The deal is part of BII’s strategy to support African frontier markets. For Ecobank, it also aligns with the group’s Vision 2030 strategy, which prioritizes private sector financing, financial inclusion and the economic transformation of African markets.

Ronsard Luabeya