Equity Bank Limited has partnered with German financial institution ODDO BHF to enhance trade and investment between Africa and Europe. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the German-Africa Business Summit in Nairobi by Equity Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi and ODDO BHF Head of Corporate Banking Florian Witt.
The collaboration aims to capitalize on Africa’s rich resources—human capital, arable land, renewable energy potential, and strategic minerals—while leveraging Europe’s expertise in entrepreneurship and advanced technology.
“We are looking for a strategic partnership that can act as a bridge between Africa and Europe to enable businesses from both continents to work together and expand each other’s opportunities in terms of markets,”said Dr. Mwangi. He emphasized the complementary strengths of the two regions, noting that while Africa offers untapped potential in labor and resources, Europe brings decades of entrepreneurial and technological development.
By combining the capabilities of Equity and ODDO BHF, the partnership aims to integrate key production factors to turn Africa’s potential into tangible products and services that elevate the quality of life across the continent and accelerate its development.
“When you put the strengths of Equity and ODDO, you have all the factors of production together under oner roof. Equity and ODDO have chosen to be a bridge so that Africa sheds off perceived potential and transform it to products and services that go a long way to enhance the quality of life of Africans and Fasttrack Africa development,” Dr. Mwangi added.
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The collaboration will focus on four strategic pillars: demography, decarbonization, digitization, and de-risking. It also seeks to diversify supply chains, reducing dependence on traditional hubs like China and Russia.
The agreement positions Africa as a destination for European enterprises, opening up the continent of 1.4 billion people to expanded trade and investment opportunities. ODDO BHF recognizes Africa’s growing stability and profitability, and the partnership will encompass various initiatives, including impact investment, trade financing, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This partnership builds on Equity’s recent launch of a German Desk in collaboration with the German Development Finance Institution (DEG), strengthening its role as a bridge between African SMEs and European markets.
ODDO BHF, a European financial powerhouse with over 180 years of history, serves more than 60,000 clients and manages financial assets worth €142 billion across its business lines: Private Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Corporate and Investment Banking. The group’s employee-focused culture and entrepreneurial spirit contribute to its long-term growth and success.