xThe European Investment Bank (EIB), through its development arm EIB Global, has signed two landmark financing agreements with Vista Group — €20 million with Vista Gui in Guinea and €10 million with Vista Bank (SL) in Sierra Leone. These agreements mark the EIB’s first-ever intermediated loans to domestic banks in both countries, with a strong focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies, particularly within agricultural value chains. The initiative is backed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) and contributes to the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to promote sustainable investment and inclusive growth.
The partnership was formalized during the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, in the presence of senior representatives from the European Commission, the EIB, and Vista Group. Through this cooperation, the EIB seeks to channel investment toward agribusiness sectors such as cashew, rice, fruits and vegetables processing, fish and seafood processing, cocoa, palm oil, and coffee. At least 70% of the financing will be dedicated to agricultural value chains, while 30% will support women-led or women-serving enterprises and 50% will target youth-led or youth-inclusive businesses, reinforcing the operation’s inclusive and gender-responsive approach.
The initiative is part of the Women for Stronger Communities and Growth programme, which aims to mobilize €1 billion by 2027 to strengthen women’s and communities’ economic resilience against climate change and food insecurity. It also aligns with two Team Europe Initiatives — the Green and Blue Economy in Guinea and the Green Pact in Sierra Leone — to foster environmentally sustainable and socially equitable growth. In Guinea, the TRANSFORM programme will support 100 high-potential agribusinesses with better access to finance, while in Sierra Leone, the Salone Access to Finance initiative will incentivize agricultural lending to micro, small, and medium enterprises.
To ensure effective implementation, a complementary Technical Assistance programme will support Vista’s banks in deploying funds efficiently, strengthening agricultural lending capacity, and integrating environmental and social standards in line with EIB requirements. It will also promote awareness of EU sustainability certifications, especially under the EU Deforestation-Free Products Regulation.
Vista Group Chairman Simon Tiemtoré highlighted the partnership as a major milestone in empowering African SMEs, particularly in the agribusiness sector. European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela emphasized that unlocking long-term capital for small businesses will enhance local entrepreneurship, food security, and job creation. EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth, noting that this collaboration exemplifies the EU’s Global Gateway vision by empowering local financial institutions and entrepreneurs in West Africa.
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