European Investment Bank and WTO Sign Landmark Agreement to Support Trade and Investment in Developing Economies

European Investment Bank and WTO Sign Landmark Agreement to Support Trade and Investment in Developing Economies

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank Group and the World Trade Organization Secretariat have signed their first cooperation agreement to promote sustainable global trade and investment. Announced at the EIB Group Forum in Luxembourg, the partnership combines EIB Global financing with WTO-led regulatory reforms to help partner countries improve investment frameworks and expand trade opportunities. A central component of the agreement is the new EIB–WTO Trade and Investment Facilitation Initiative, which will initially focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and support sectors such as green energy, digital infrastructure, healthcare and education. The initiative will assist countries in identifying regulatory barriers, preparing investment projects and mobilising financing, with the goal of unlocking private capital and strengthening economic development.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 5-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat have signed their first-ever partnership agreement aimed at strengthening sustainable trade and investment worldwide. The collaboration establishes a framework to combine financial support from EIB Global with trade policy reforms promoted by the WTO, helping partner countries attract investment while expanding international trade opportunities.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the EIB Group Forum in Luxembourg. Through the agreement, EIB Global — the EIB Group’s development and international partnerships arm — and the WTO Secretariat will work together to promote investment, facilitate trade and strengthen capacity building related to global commerce.

A key element of the partnership is the launch of the EIB–WTO Trade and Investment Facilitation Initiative. The initiative aims to support partner countries by improving regulatory frameworks, mobilising capital and encouraging trade flows between the European Union and international partners.

The programme will initially focus on selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and will prioritise sectors that support sustainable development and economic transformation. These sectors include green energy and climate-related investments, digital infrastructure, healthcare, education and training as well as initiatives designed to promote sustainable economic growth and employment.

The initiative has been developed in consultation with the European Commission and is aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to strengthen infrastructure, investment and economic cooperation between Europe and global partners.

EIB Group President Nadia Calviño highlighted that the partnership represents an important step toward transforming trade policy dialogue into tangible investments. By linking regulatory reforms with financing mechanisms, the agreement aims to help partner countries attract higher-quality investment while creating new business opportunities for European companies.

Beyond financing and policy coordination, the partnership will also involve joint analytical work and research. EIB Global and the WTO Secretariat will exchange insights on global trade and investment trends to support better policy decisions and more effective investment strategies.

Another objective of the collaboration is to help partner countries strengthen regulatory and institutional frameworks related to trade and investment. This work will support the implementation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, an initiative backed by more than three-quarters of WTO members that establishes a global framework to simplify and streamline foreign direct investment procedures.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted that the partnership comes at a time when global foreign direct investment flows remain below levels required to support development needs. She said the agreement aligns regulatory reform with financial support in order to reduce risks for investors, improve transparency and create more predictable investment environments.

The newly launched Trade and Investment Facilitation Initiative will begin with a pilot phase in Africa. The programme will assist participating countries in identifying investment barriers and developing operational action plans that outline specific reforms needed to attract capital.

As part of the process, the WTO Secretariat and EIB Global will support partner governments in assessing their regulatory frameworks and identifying priority investment sectors. The EIB will also provide advisory support to help prepare investment projects and bring them to a stage where they are ready for financing.

Once projects are ready, EIB Global may provide financing through loans, blended finance and other financial instruments designed to attract additional private investment. The aim is to combine public financing with private capital in order to support long-term economic development and sustainable investment.

Alongside this partnership, the EIB is also advancing other initiatives designed to promote European exports and support global investment opportunities for EU companies.

Background information 

The EIB Group   

The European Investment Bank (ElB) Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 Member States, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion of new financing and advisory services for over 870 high-impact projects in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, territorial cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships and the savings and investment union. Beyond long-term loans for large infrastructures, the EIB Group crowds-in private investment for high-risk innovative projects and businesses, with a growing role in Europe’s markets for venture debt, venture capital, guarantees and securitisations.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is the subsidiary of the EIB Group specialised in providing guarantees and equity to improve access to finance for small and medium size businesses and startups across Europe. Acting as an anchor investor, through its extensive network of partnering banks and investment funds, the EIF mobilises private investment and nurtures the ecosystem of venture capital funds to support innovative European entrepreneurs.

In 2023, the EIF together with six member states (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands) launched the European Tech Champions Initiative, a fund of funds to scale-up innovative startups. This initiative has already enabled the creation of 12 European venture capital mega-funds and scaled up 38 companies, including 11 unicorns (with more than €1 billion in capital).

Photos of the EIB Group’s spokespeople and headquarters, logo files and video B-roll for media use are available here.

EIB Global

EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international win-win partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Team Europe and the Global Gateway strategy. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through its offices across the world.

Media Contact:

Begum Iman
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+352 4379 – 85212

Press Office

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank