Agreement signed on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok targets small businesses, entrepreneurship, job creation and financial inclusion.
By Ajong Mbapndah L
The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and Vista Group Holding have signed a €20 million financing agreement aimed at strengthening Guinea’s private sector, expanding access to credit and creating new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the West African country.
The agreement, signed on October 13, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF), marks another step in efforts to address financing challenges facing African businesses, particularly smaller enterprises seeking capital to expand their operations.
The deal was signed by BADEA President H.E. Abdullah Almusaibeeh and Vista Group Holding Group Managing Director Yao Kouassi, bringing together an established development finance institution and a growing African banking group with ambitions to deepen financial inclusion across the continent.
Under the arrangement, Vista Group will channel the financing through its subsidiary in Guinea, with particular attention to SMEs, which remain important drivers of entrepreneurship, employment and economic activity. The facility is expected to strengthen the bank’s capacity to finance local businesses and support private sector development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, BADEA President Abdullah Almusaibeeh welcomed the partnership, describing Vista Group as an important player in Africa’s banking sector and expressing confidence in the potential benefits for Guinea’s economy.
“We are pleased to partner with Vista Group Holding, an important player in Africa’s banking sector. We expect this financing to strengthen the Group’s capacity to support private sector development in Guinea by expanding access to finance for businesses. It has the potential to contribute to job creation and poverty reduction,” Almusaibeeh said.
For Vista Group, the agreement represents an opportunity to expand its support for entrepreneurs and businesses in Guinea while advancing its broader commitment to inclusive banking and sustainable economic development.
“This agreement with BADEA is an important step in expanding access to finance for businesses in Guinea. Through this facility, we aim to support the growth of local businesses, particularly SMEs, and create opportunities for entrepreneurs. The partnership reflects our shared commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth,” said Yao Kouassi, Group Managing Director of Vista Group Holding.
The financing comes at a time when access to affordable capital remains a major concern for businesses across Africa. Smaller enterprises frequently face difficulties securing the resources needed to increase production, invest in equipment, expand into new markets and create employment. By strengthening Vista Group’s lending capacity in Guinea, the BADEA facility could help address some of these constraints.
The agreement also reflects the growing importance of partnerships between development finance institutions and commercial banks in mobilizing resources for African economies. Such arrangements allow development institutions to work through established banking networks to reach businesses that might otherwise struggle to access financing.
For BADEA, the partnership fits within its mandate of promoting economic cooperation between Arab countries and Sub-Saharan Africa. Established by 18 Arab countries, the institution serves 44 non-Arab countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting private sector development, trade finance and investment.
Under its 2030 Strategy, BADEA is seeking to strengthen its position as a leading platform for Arab-African economic cooperation, with sustainable development and private sector growth among its priorities.
Vista Group, meanwhile, has been pursuing its ambition of building a pan-African financial institution focused on economic growth and financial inclusion. Its activities span MSME banking, corporate banking, trade and supply-chain finance, and bancassurance, with services including leasing, factoring, mesofinance and banking products tailored to women entrepreneurs.
The Group has also established partnerships with international financial institutions to support its expansion, strengthen risk management and improve operational efficiency. The new BADEA agreement adds to this approach, providing another financing channel through which Vista can support businesses in its operating markets.
The choice of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings as the setting for the signing also places the transaction within wider discussions on development financing, private investment and the resources needed to accelerate economic growth in Africa.
For Guinea, the immediate significance of the €20 million facility will be measured by its ability to translate into greater access to financing for local businesses. Beyond the size of the agreement, its success will depend on how effectively the resources reach entrepreneurs and enterprises with the potential to expand, generate employment and contribute to the country’s economic development.
The BADEA–Vista partnership underscores the role that African banking institutions and international development partners can play in unlocking private sector opportunities, with SMEs at the centre of efforts to build more inclusive and resilient economies.