Orange Bank Africa and SGPME join forces to unlock 17 billion FCFA for Côte d’Ivoire’s small businesses
Abidjan’s first fully digital bank, Orange Bank Africa, has formalized two landmark agreements with Côte d’Ivoire’s Société de Garantie des Crédits aux Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (SGPME) to channel up to 17 billion West African francs toward local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Of this total, 4 billion FCFA is earmarked exclusively for women-led businesses, reflecting a targeted push to close financing gaps in Côte d’Ivoire’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The instruments, signed in Abidjan’s economic hub, leverage public-private collaboration to mitigate credit risks and accelerate loan approvals.
Digital finance as a growth catalyst for women-led ventures
Audrey Koffi, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Bank Africa, emphasized that access to capital—not market demand or innovation—remains the critical bottleneck for most Ivorian businesses. «We exist to empower those who are building the ladder of our economy,» she stated. «Our new partnership with SGPME directly addresses the financing hurdles faced by entrepreneurs, particularly women, who are driving Côte d’Ivoire’s economic transformation.»
Orange Bank Africa disburses roughly 20 billion FCFA in loans monthly, underscoring its role as a key player in the region’s digital banking landscape. The latest agreements enable the bank to extend 4 billion FCFA in dedicated credit lines for women entrepreneurs, with SGPME covering up to 70% of the loan guarantees—a move designed to unlock working capital for hundreds of female founders.
SGPME’s 70% guarantee amplifies impact
Joëlle Kouassi, SGPME’s CEO, highlighted the partnership’s broader mission: reducing the funding divide that has long constrained Côte d’Ivoire’s SME growth. «Traditional lenders often require collateral that many small businesses simply cannot provide,» she explained. «By guaranteeing at least 50%—and up to 70%—of these loans, we remove a major barrier to entry.»
While acknowledging that 17 billion FCFA cannot fully meet all SME financing needs, Kouassi stressed that this initiative represents a tangible step forward. «Our goal is to shrink the financing gap, one guarantee at a time,» she said.
Institutional backing strengthens the initiative
Established by the Ivorian government, SGPME was created to streamline access to credit for small and mid-sized enterprises. The current collaboration, supported by multilateral partners, reinforces this mandate by combining digital banking efficiency with state-backed risk mitigation.
Orange Bank Africa, now celebrating six years as a fully digital financial institution, continues to champion financial inclusion across West Africa. By integrating these new credit facilities, the bank reaffirms its commitment to fostering an enabling environment where businesses—especially those led by women—can thrive without the traditional constraints of collateral and paperwork.
