The Malian Minister of Economy and Finance, Alousséni Sanou, and the Country Manager of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Mrs. Haly Louise Djoussou-Lorng, signed, in Bamako, nine agreements of 50.82 billion CFA francs to finance five projects, reports the Malian News Agency (AMAP), citing a statement from the Malian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).

These Agreements, in terms of grants and loans, are intended to finance the Support Programme in response to the COVID-19 crisis in the G5 Sahel countries (PARC COVID-19 – G5 Sahel) in the form of budget support, the Development Programme of the Special Zone for Agro-Industrial Transformation of the Koulikoro and Peri-Urban Regions of Bamako ( PDZSTA-KB), the Programme for the Accession of the Republic of Mali to the Agency for Trade Insurance in Africa (ACA).

"The ceremony that brings us together today is of a special nature because it is part of the signing of a series of Financing Agreements following the full recovery of the rich and fruitful cooperation between the African Development Bank, our Common Institution, and the Transitional Government of Mali," said Thursday, November 20, 2020, the Malian Minister of Economy and Finance.

Mr. Sanou reaffirmed the commitment and availability of the Malian Transition authorities "to continue, to further strengthen the rich and dynamic cooperation relations" with the AfDB.

The AfDB Country Manager, Ms. Haly Louise Djoussou-Lorng, said the AfDB wishes to reaffirm its commitment "to support the new Malian authorities in carrying out their mission".

For her, the signing of these financing agreements comes at a crucial and decisive moment for Mali, namely the beginning of a transition aimed at creating new bases for a more inclusive and re-engaged Mali.

As well as the exceptional emergency project for low-income countries, members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Strengthening the health systems of The Gambia, Mali and Niger to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and the project to support the development of the ecosystem th entrepreneurial of MSMEs/MSMIs.