The director de la OMC and the president of Grupo Banco Europeo de Inversiones (Grupo BEIThey have formalized a strategic alliance to promote sustainable trade and investment globally. The agreement aims to mobilize financial resources and improve regulatory environments in developing economies.
An alliance to facilitate investments
The agreement, signed within the framework of EIB Group Forum en Luxemburgo, establishes the so-called EIB-WTO Trade and Investment Facilitation InitiativeThis cooperation tool will be based on the Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development, signed by 128 members of the OMCto reduce risks and increase transparency in foreign direct investment flows.
Both institutions will work together to assist developing countries in assessing their needs and in developing operational action plansThese plans will identify the reforms needed to unlock investment, utilizing both direct funding from BEI as instruments of blended financing that include private capital participation.
| Key Concept | Agreement Details |
|---|---|
| Signatories | Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (OMC) and Nadia Calviño (Grupo BEI) |
| Signature Date | March 4th 2026 |
| Countries involved (Framework Agreement) | 128 Members of the OMC |
| Initial focus | Selected countries in África |
Strategic priorities and critical sectors
In an initial pilot phase, the initiative will focus on critical sectors aligned with the priorities of EIB GlobalThe priority areas of action include:
- Ecological green and digital.
- Health, education and vocational training.
- Sustainable growth and creation of decent job.
- Critical mining and bioeconomy.
The Director General of the OMC, Ngozi Okonjo-IwealaHe highlighted that this association "Align policy reform efforts with catalytic financing"This promises to attract private investment in digital technologies and strategic minerals.
For her part, the president of the Grupo BEI, Nadia CalviñoHe stressed that the agreement will help transform the dialogue on trade policy in "concrete and high-impact investments", benefiting both partner countries and companies in the Unión Europea under a framework of shared prosperity.
Key points and frequently asked questions about the WTO-EIB agreement
What is the main objective of this Memorandum of Understanding?
The objective is to improve the regulatory environment and mobilize sustainable investment in developing countries, leveraging financial resources from BEI and the regulatory framework of the OMC.
Which countries will be the first to benefit from this initiative?
The pilot phase of the initiative will initially focus on a selection of countries in África, before expanding to other developing regions.
How will the projects resulting from this agreement be financed?
Own funds will be used BEIas well as blended finance instruments that encourage private capital participation to reduce the global investment gap.
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