Fourth Edition of EBID’s President’s Roundtable: From the Farm to the Port: Financing the Value Chains of West Africa’s Cash Crops

West Africa is the world’s powerhouse for agricultural commodities, dominating global production of cocoa, cashew, shea nuts, and cotton. However, the region captures only a fraction of the final value of these crops, primarily exporting raw materials instead of processed goods. This represents a significant loss of potential revenue, jobs, and industrial development.

Closing this value gap is key to transforming West Africa’s economies from raw material exporters to industrialised trading partners. This transformation requires targeted financing for the “missing middle” – the agro-industrial SMIs (Small and Medium Industries) and the integrated infrastructure that connects farms to factories and to ports. As the regional Development Finance Institution (DFI) of the ECOWAS sub-region, EBID is uniquely positioned to catalyse this shift. With a deep understanding of the local context and a mandate to foster sustainable development, EBID’s strategic financing can de-risk investments and build the foundational value chains that are the true engine of wealth creation under the AfCFTA.

The primary objective of this roundtable is to move beyond theoretical discussions on trade and to pinpoint actionable, financeable strategies for industrialising West Africa’s agricultural sector. The dialogue will focus on identifying the key bottlenecks in agricultural value chains and defining the precise role of DFIs in addressing them through innovative financing, technical assistance, and strategic partnerships.

The fourth edition of EBID’s President’s Roundtable on “From the Farm to the Port: Financing the Value Chains of West Africa’s Cash Crops’” will take place on Monday, 24th November 2025 at 11:00 am GMT.

Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID, will be joined by other leading development experts from the development finance sector, the industry and agriculture sectors in West Africa to discuss and share practical solutions for financing the infrastructure and businesses needed to transform raw commodities into finished goods, thereby retaining more value within the region.

Watch live on Metro TV Ghana, DSTV channel 277, or catch the livestream on Metro TV Ghana’s and EBID’s social media handles.