The Central Depository/Settlement Bank (DC/BR) has officially launched DIGIAPE, a new digital platform for public offerings, with support from the African Development Bank. The platform is designed to automate primary market subscriptions within the West African Monetary Union’s (UMOA) regional financial market. By enabling real-time allocation of securities at the close of trading, DIGIAPE aims to improve transparency, reliability, and competitiveness in the region’s capital markets.
The African Development Bank has provided $400,000 through its Capital Markets Development Trust Fund (CMDTF) to support the design, deployment, and operation of the DIGIAPE platform. The funding also covers capacity-building for DC/BR staff and supports training for regional financial market stakeholders, ensuring the effective use of the platform.
The platform was launched during an official ceremony attended by key stakeholders, including the Ivorian Minister for Digital Transition and Digitization, representatives from the African Development Bank, the UMOA Financial Markets Authority, and various financial market participants. The event underscored the importance of digital innovation in advancing regional financial integration and market modernization.
Established in 2019, the CMDTF promotes the integration and competitiveness of African capital markets. It supports strategic reforms, infrastructure development, investor diversification, and the creation of innovative financial instruments. The fund is backed by the Luxembourg Ministry of Finance, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
The Central Depository/Settlement Bank, headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is a key financial institution within the UMOA region. It manages securities custody for its members, oversees settlement and delivery of stock market transactions, and handles payments related to securities. The launch of DIGIAPE marks a significant step toward digital transformation in West Africa’s financial markets.
