The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has officially joined the Berne Union, the world’s leading association for export credit and investment insurance, becoming the first multilateral development institution to receive full participation rights within the organization. The milestone was marked during the 2026 Berne Union Spring Meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan, which gathered more than 240 delegates from over 70 countries representing export credit agencies, international financial institutions, and insurance providers.
The conference highlighted the growing importance of global trade connectivity, cross-border investment, energy security, and critical minerals amid evolving geopolitical and economic conditions. Discussions focused on strengthening international cooperation to address financing gaps and support sustainable development objectives worldwide.
Representatives from the African Development Bank actively participated in technical discussions, particularly within the Medium and Long-Term Committee. A key session explored collaboration between Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) to mobilize greater private sector investment and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Participants emphasized that no single institution can meet global development financing needs alone and called for stronger partnerships, better information sharing, and enhanced coordination among financial institutions.
The meeting’s theme, “Crossroads,” reflected the current convergence of global trade routes, investment decisions, and policy discussions. Africa was highlighted as a continent with significant opportunities due to its abundant critical minerals, expanding consumer markets, emerging infrastructure corridors, and young workforce. Despite these advantages, Africa continues to face challenges related to limited insurance coverage and insufficient access to financing.
The African Development Bank noted that data consistently demonstrates strong sovereign debt recovery rates across African countries, challenging common perceptions of investment risk. Improving understanding of the continent’s actual risk profile is viewed as essential for attracting increased private capital and supporting long-term economic growth.
Membership in the Berne Union provides the Bank with access to a global network of export credit agencies, insurers, and financial institutions. This platform will support the Bank’s efforts to advance the New African Financial Architecture for Development and strengthen partnerships that can channel investment into priority sectors across the continent.
With more than $20 billion in projects planned across energy, transportation, agriculture, digital infrastructure, and financial sector development, the Bank sees its participation in the Berne Union as an important tool for expanding financing opportunities and supporting Africa’s development agenda. The new membership enhances the Bank’s ability to engage with global risk-sharing institutions and attract the capital needed to support large-scale infrastructure and economic transformation projects across Africa.
