Cybastion received the “Industries of the Future Deal of the Year” award on April 30, at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) 2026 Annual Conference, which recognized a historic multi-million dollar financing guarantee to advance digital infrastructure in Ivory Coast.
Last August, EXIM's board of directors approved more than $100 million in funding guarantees to support the construction of a national data center and export U.S. technology to digitize Ivorian government services.
“On behalf of Cybastion, we are deeply honored by this recognition, which reflects a new model of partnership, investment and long-term impact,” said Armand Tchokokam, Executive Vice President and Global CFO of Cybastion, after the awards ceremony.
Sarah Whitten, EXIM Senior Vice President and Global Head of Origination, presented Cybastion's recognition of the "Industries of the Future Deal of the Year" award at the awards ceremony.
Mr. Tchokokam accepted the award with the Cybastion team, including John Saylor, Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development; Oscar Parlback, Director, Strategic Initiatives, and Shanta Bryant Gyan, director of communications and marketing.
The EXIM financing guarantee directly advances the company's Digital Fast Track program, an accelerated roadmap for building resilient digital ecosystems in Africa through integrated infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital solutions and digital training.
As a leading exporter, Cybastion will harness the power of a consortium of U.S. technology partners to build resilient digital infrastructure and advance the country's digital sovereignty.
Moderated by Alyssa Pettus, EXIM's Chief of Staff, Mr. Tchokokam, who is also a co-founder of Cybastion, joined Venkee Sharma, Executive Chairman of Aquatech, on a captivating plenary panel, "Scaling America's Export Engine."
During the panel, Mr. Tchokokam explained how the financing agreement demonstrates that large-scale digital infrastructure projects in Africa are bankable and can be successfully deployed in emerging markets with the support of U.S. financing guarantees. It also sends a clear signal to global investors that Ivory Coast and emerging markets in Africa are increasingly attractive destinations for long-term investments.
The CFO was also a panelist at the breakout session titled “Financing Africa’s Strategic Corridors: Leveraging U.S. Export Credit for Bankable Infrastructure and Industrial Growth,” hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa.
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