The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is bolstering value chains in the agribusiness sectors of two west African countries, providing a €70 million loan to Valency International.
The EBRD funds will help Valency International to meet its working capital needs, enabling the procurement of cashew, soya beans, cocoa and sesame in Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria for processing and exports. They will also support the scaling-up of Valency International’s operations and the expansion of its sourcing from local farmers, strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of both countries’ agribusiness sectors.
A significant portion of the investment will also help Valency International to increase the utilisation of its recently commissioned cashew processing facility in Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing the company’s commitment to local added value, job creation and improved market access for smallholder suppliers.
In parallel, Valency International will enhance its corporate climate governance practices, supported by dedicated technical cooperation activities that are part-funded by the EBRD. This will help the company to incorporate stronger climate risk management and sustainability standards across its operations.
Odile Renaud-Basso, the President of the EBRD, said: “The EBRD’s first investments in the food and agribusiness sectors of Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria represent an important milestone in our engagement in sub?Saharan Africa. By strengthening value chains, expanding access to finance and supporting climate?resilient practices, we aim to help unlock the full potential of these vital sectors. Agriculture is central to livelihoods and economic opportunity in both countries, and our support will help to create jobs, empower rural communities and foster sustainable, inclusive growth for the benefit of their people.”
Sumit Jain, Valency International’s Group CEO, said: “Alongside strengthening agricultural value chains in Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, this facility supports Valency’s next phase of growth with stronger, more resilient operations. We value the EBRD partnership and the accompanying support to embed an ambitious corporate climate governance programme aligned with global reporting expectations, improving how we manage climate risk and performance across our footprint.”
Established in 2007, Valency International is a diversified and integrated agri-core player across emerging markets, with operations across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria became EBRD shareholders and economies of operation in 2025. In both countries, the Bank aims to (i) invest in sustainable critical infrastructure that underpins private-sector development, (ii) support the modernisation and efficiency of enterprises, and (iii) strengthen the economic governance of institutions.