Share the page

Proparco grants a USD 10 million loan to BCI Guinea to support SME financing

Signature

Published on

Cérémonie de signature BCI
Signing ceremony at the French Residency in Conakry - DR

The Banque pour le Commerce et l’Industrie Guinée (BCI Guinea), a subsidiary of the BCI Mauritania group, and Proparco, the private sector arm of the AFD Group, signed on Monday, September 8, 2025, a USD 10 million financing agreement in favor of Guinean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The signing ceremony took place at the French Residence in Conakry, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Luc Briard, Ambassador of France to Guinea, Mr. Sadio Dicko, Proparco’s Regional Director for West Africa, and Mr. Sidy Mohamed Cherif, Managing Director of BCI Guinea. Mr. Ismaël Nabé, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Ms. Diaka Sidibé, Minister of Industry and SMEs, and Mr. Mohamed Lamine Conté, First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea, also attended the ceremony, along with members of BCI Guinea’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

This senior loan of USD 10 million, granted under the Choose Africa initiative, is fully dedicated to SME financing. It will enable BCI Guinea to strengthen its historic role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, which form the backbone of Guinea’s economy. For the past 13 years, BCI Guinea has established itself as a leading bank exclusively dedicated to SMEs, supporting the growth of many local businesses.

This operation marks a new milestone in the partnership initiated in 2022 between Proparco and the BCI Group, renewing their collaboration this time in favor of SMEs. The financing is fully aligned with Proparco’s 2023–2027 strategy and reflects its ambition to support African economies in their transition toward a more sustainable and resilient economy. In addition to the loan, Proparco will provide BCI Guinea with technical assistance to set up an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) in line with international standards. The project contributes to Sustainable Development Goal No. 8 (decent work and economic growth).

This partnership with BCI Guinea confirms our commitment to supporting strong regional banks that are fully engaged in serving local SMEs. Through this financing, we are reinforcing our contribution to inclusive and sustainable growth in Guinea, while fostering job creation and the country’s economic dynamism.

Sadio Dicko

  • Proparco’s Regional Director for West Africa

Through this agreement, Proparco reaffirms its confidence in the BCI Group with this new USD 10 million financing. This support adds to the USD 19 million trade finance line granted to the BCI Group, of which USD 7 million is specifically dedicated to BCI Guinea. These facilities will allow our bank to intensify SME financing, which represents the future and vitality of our country.

Sidy Mohamed CHERIF

  • Managing Director of BCI Guinea