Nigeria Content Online

Under a cooperation
agreement with the Bank of China, Ecobank Ghana has become the first
affiliate of the Ecobank Group to have a dedicated desk manned by staff
seconded by the Bank of China. The cooperation agreement between
Ecobank, a leading pan-African banking institution, and the Bank of
China, the country’s leading international bank, is a reciprocal pact
focusing mainly on international trade, projects and investments.
“Today sees the beginning of an exciting partnership between Ecobank
and the Bank of China,” Ecobank Group CEO, Arnold Ekpe, said. “We shall
open dedicated desks at selected Ecobank branches across Africa. In
return, the Bank of China will be our primary conduit in our business
dealings in China.”

Speaking at the
signing ceremony in Accra, Ecobank Group Executive Director, Corporate
Banking, Albert Essien, said: “The pact will allow the Bank of China to
cater more pointedly to their clients in Africa using the Ecobank
platform, while it also enables Ecobank to grow its China business.”
Ecobank and the Bank of China stand to benefit from the growing trade
and investment links between Africa and China. African exports to China
have increased significantly in the past few years reaching $30.14
billion in 2008. China exported goods worth $23 billion to Africa over
the same period.