The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development EBID has signed a US10 million loan facility with Vista Bank Sierra Leone a move designed to strengthen the country's small and medium-sized enterprise SME sector and promote inclusive economic growth. The agreement was formalised on 27 October 2025 by Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID, and Mr Pa Ousman Njie, Managing Director of Vista Bank Sierra Leone.
Under the new facility, Vista Bank Sierra Leone will extend its reach to SMEs and corporate clients across key productive sectors of the economy, with a particular emphasis on women-led and youth-driven enterprises. The initiative aims to address one of Sierra Leone's persistent development challenges - limited access to affordable credit - while stimulating entrepreneurship and job creation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Donkor underlined the crucial role of SMEs in shaping regional resilience and competitiveness. "Supporting a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly in productive sectors such as agriculture and agribusiness, is critical to enhancing food security, building local industries, and advancing regional value addition," he said. "By channelling long-term, affordable financing to the real economy, EBID and Vista Bank Sierra Leone are equipping businesses with the resources they need to scale up operations, expand into regional markets, and improve livelihoods."