ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and Republic of Colombia forge Historic South-South Partnership
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has welcomed Her Excellency Francia Elena Márquez Mina, Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, to its Headquarters on December 9,2025. The historic visit, led by the first Afro-Colombian Vice President, marks a significant advancement in cooperation between Latin America and West Africa.
During high-level talks, both parties agreed to develop an Operational Cooperation Framework to guide strategic engagement for the development of projects, knowledge sharing, and resource mobilisation. Priority sectors were identified, including investment in climate-resilient, value-added agribusiness and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as catalysts for inclusive growth.
Vice President Márquez extended a formal invitation to Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID for an official visit to Colombia in March 2026, which will serve as a key milestone for the proposed partnership and promote collaboration between Development Finance Institutions in Latin America and the ECOWAS sub-region. She emphasized Colombia’s commitment to a tangible partnership with West Africa that drives sustainable progress.
EBID’s President welcomed the strengthened ties, stating, “EBID is poised to be the bridge connecting the dynamic economies of West Africa and Latin America. This partnership sets a new standard for impactful South-South development finance.”
As a next step, the parties committed to the signing of a Cooperation Framework ahead of the EBID President’s visit to Bogotá, reflecting a shared ambition to accelerate actionable outcomes.
