The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has approved a €70 million loan to Valency International to strengthen agribusiness value chains in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, the bank announced this week.

The financing will support Valency International’s working capital needs, enabling the procurement of key commodities including cashew, soya beans, cocoa and sesame from local farmers in both countries. 

The products will be processed and exported, supporting agricultural trade and value addition.

The loan will also allow the company to scale up its operations and expand sourcing from smallholder farmers. 

This is expected to improve market access for rural producers and strengthen the competitiveness of the agribusiness sectors in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

Part of the funding will be used to increase the utilisation of Valency International’s recently commissioned cashew processing facility in Côte d’Ivoire. 

The move supports local processing, job creation and higher domestic value retention within the cashew value chain.

Alongside the financing, Valency International will improve its corporate climate governance. 

This will be supported through technical cooperation activities partly funded by the EBRD, aimed at strengthening climate risk management and sustainability standards across the company’s operations.

The EBRD stated that the investment marks its first engagement in the food and agribusiness sectors of Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire since both countries became shareholders and economies of operation in 2025. 

The bank’s focus in both countries includes supporting private-sector development, improving enterprise efficiency and strengthening economic governance.

Source: European Bank