FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Top U.S. Officials, Citi and Cybastion, and U.S. Technology Leaders Formally Announce $100 Million EXIM Funding Guarantee for Africa's Digital Sector
EXIM-backed financing guarantee frees up capital and reduces risks associated with U.S. entry into Africa's fast-growing digital market
NEW YORK — September 25, 2025 – Senior U.S. officials, Citi, U.S. technology leader Cybastion and a consortium of U.S. technology companies announced the first-ever $100 million financing guarantee from the Export-Import Bank in the African digital sector for a national data center and digitalization project in Ivory Coast.
Announced at a side event at the United Nations General Assembly, the agreement will help de-risk U.S. private sector investments and allow U.S. companies to capture growth in one of Africa's fastest-growing technology markets.
EXIM's Board of Directors approved more than $100 million in funding guarantees in August to support two major digital transformation projects: a$66 million guarantee on August 21support the construction of a national data center, anda guarantee of $47 million on August 14export American technology to digitize the Department of Trade and Industry.
The agreement is supported byEXIM China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP)and will open new investment opportunities for U.S. companies in Africa’s growing digital infrastructure market.
“We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to pursuing additional opportunities,” saidJim Burrows, Acting Senior Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
“Digital infrastructure will be a major issue in Africa. We cannot ignore the digital era and revolution,” declared Patrick Jérôme Achi, Minister of State and Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. Achi stressed that the government was creating a business-friendly environment and putting in place the infrastructure for the private sector to invest.
As a leading exporter, Cybastion, in collaboration with potential US technology partners, including Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Schneider Electric, among other technology leaders, to modernize government services through digitalization and build a resilient digital infrastructure to advance the country's digital sovereignty.
“By combining American innovation, funding and expertise with the support of the Ivorian government,” said Dr. Thierry Wandji, CEO of Cybastion. "This project with the support of EXIM is a win-win for both countries. The United States can sell the products. We can train the Ivorians. We can give them access to a new life by working on the digital economy because it is transformational."
“We are proud to work hand-in-hand with EXIM, the U.S. government and our strategic partner Cybastion on a national data center and digitalization project in Ivory Coast,” said Fran Katsoudas, Cisco, executive vice president and chief human resources, policy and purpose officer. "As President Trump outlined in his AI Action Plan, success in the AI era requires strong public-private partnerships. Cisco is proud to provide networking, security, and collaboration technologies with our partners on this historic project."
“As Cybastion partners, we are proud to contribute to the digital future of Côte d'Ivoire, building on our long-standing partnership with the government and our global expertise in data center solutions,” Diaretou Madina Gaye Dieng, President of Schneider Electric's Francophone Africa and Islands Cluster.
Citi, present in Ivory Coast for 50 years, is the leading US financier for advanced data center and digitalization projects in Ivory Coast. EXIM has authorized $110 million in financing guarantees for the country.
“We have found a very strong partner in Cybastion, especially when we look at digital infrastructure and cybersecurity across West Africa,” Stephanie Von Friedeberg, global head of public sector banking at Citi, said of the financing.
Citing Ivory Coast as one of the fastest growing economies on the continent, Will Stevens, deputy assistant secretary for West Africa in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, noted that "when American companies come to invest, they train people."
“That’s what it’s all about,” Stevens said of the EXIM financing guarantee. "It's about the U.S. government filling the gaps and being an enabler. That's exactly why we have tools like EXIM, DFC and MCC."
Cybastion is advancing a series of digital transformation projects in Ivory Coast ranging from an eTourism platform to other digitalization initiatives with Ivorian ministries and agencies, in partnership with a consortium of US companies.
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ABOUT CYBASTION: Cybastion is an American technology company that provides world-class digital and cybersecurity solutions to accelerate Africa's digital transformation. Visitwww.cybastiontech.com
PRESS CONTACT:
Shanta Bryant Gyan, Cybastion –sbgyan@cybastiontech.com
