The event brought together Export-Import Banks, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Public Development Banks, strategic partners and international organisations from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
As G-NEXID commemorates its 20th anniversary, the Assembly provided a platform for members to discuss ways to expand trade and development finance, strengthen regional value chains, and enhance co-financing and risk-sharing arrangements to accelerate sustainable development across the Global South.
Speaking at the event, Dr George Agyekum Donkor, Honorary President of G-NEXID and President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), underscored the need for stronger cooperation among Development Finance Institutions and Export-Import Banks, stressing that greater collaboration, co-financing, and knowledge sharing are essential to delivering measurable development impact and sustainable prosperity.
A major highlight of the Assembly was the official launch of G-NEXID’s flagship publication, “Strengthening Trade and Related Finance for the Global South”. The publication provides practical insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping South-South trade and development finance, while highlighting the importance of innovative financing, sustainability, and strategic partnerships in driving economic transformation across the Global South.
As the global development landscape continues to evolve, G-NEXID reaffirmed its commitment to serving as a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange and collective action among development finance institutions and export credit agencies. The Network calls on Export-Import Banks, Development Finance Institutions, Public Development Banks and strategic partners worldwide to join this growing community and contribute to the development of new co-financing initiatives, risk-sharing arrangements, knowledge-exchange programmes and strategic partnerships capable of generating tangible and lasting impact across the Global South. Among the speakers were representatives of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), SERV (the Swiss Export Risk Insurance), the West African Development Bank (BOAD), Afreximbank, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
Facts Only
* The event involved Export-Import Banks, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Public Development Banks, strategic partners, and international organizations from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
* G-NEXID commemorated its 20th anniversary.
* Members discussed expanding trade and development finance, strengthening regional value chains, and enhancing co-financing and risk-sharing arrangements for sustainable development across the Global South.
* Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, Honorary President of G-NEXID and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), spoke at the event.
* Donkor underscored the need for stronger cooperation among Development Finance Institutions and Export-Import Banks, stressing that collaboration, co-financing, and knowledge sharing are essential for development impact.
* G-NEXID officially launched its publication, “Strengthening Trade and Related Finance for the Global South.”
* The publication provides insights into opportunities and challenges in South-South trade and development finance, highlighting innovative financing, sustainability, and partnerships.
* Speakers included representatives from the WTO, OECD, SERV, BOAD, Afreximbank, and DBSA.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The narrative presented is one of aspirational multilateralism aimed at reconfiguring global financial architecture to prioritize development equity within the Global South. The core tension lies between the stated goal—accelerating sustainable development through co-financing and risk-sharing—and the reality of existing structural imbalances that necessitate this urgent call for cooperation among finance providers. The emphasis on South-South trade finance suggests an acknowledgment that established North-South financial relationships are insufficient or inequitable, demanding alternative mechanisms built on shared knowledge rather than unilateral aid.
The pattern observed is a mobilization strategy: establishing a unified voice (G-NEXID) to create an intellectual and operational framework for collective action among diverse, powerful financial actors. The launch of the publication functions as a mechanism to solidify this platform, turning abstract desires for cooperation into tangible knowledge products. However, the effectiveness hinges on whether the call for "collaboration" translates into structural shifts within institutions rather than remaining rhetorical commitments.
The implication is that true sustainable development cannot be achieved solely through bilateral lending but requires systemic restructuring of how finance flows, particularly concerning risk and value chain integration. The challenge resides in bridging the gap between the high-level commitment articulated by representatives and the concrete, enforceable agreements required to generate "tangible and lasting impact." What specific institutional or regulatory barriers prevent this collaboration from becoming the primary mode of financing, and who stands to gain most from maintaining the current fragmented system?