As announced, the Board of Directors of AGF West Africa, meeting on May 8, proceeded to the appointment of Mrs. Adidja ZANOUVI, as General Director of the structure to replace Mr. Franck ADJAGBA, now Assistant to the Director of Operation of the Group within the African Guarantee Fund in Nairobi. In the wake of these important changes, Financial Afrik spoke with Mrs. Adidja ZANOUVI. Synthetic answers. Exclusive.
-What can we remember from the board of directors that has just been held in Abidjan?
Three important decisions were approved during this Board meeting:
The Change of the name of the Guarantee Fund for Private Investments in West Africa (GARI Fund) to African Guarantee Fund West Africa (AGF West Africa).
My appointment as General Manager to replace Mr. Franck ADJAGBA
The start of construction work at its headquarters in Lomé in the coming weeks.
-How to interpret the new appointments made during this council?
The name change project was announced after the acquisition to all our financial partners and the supervisory authorities. Indeed, the identity of a Group is also found in its name which must be worn by its subsidiaries wherever it operates. These changes come as a result of the end of the AGF Fund integration process at AGF.
In a Group, this kind of rotation happens regularly. Mr ADJAGBA succeeded in implementing the first phase of the AGF West Africa integration. He joins the Nairobi office to bring his experience to the other operational areas of the Group at the Business Development level and strengthen the headquarters teams.
AGF West Africa is entering the absorption phase – for this the subsidiary needs one person to create the framework for implementing the Group’s strategic objectives. In choosing me to succeed, the Board is confident in its ability to consolidate the achievements of integration, to maintain and capture new markets while bringing the culture and vision of the Group to its subsidiary West Africa.
-What is the overall outlook of the AGF fund and specifically AGF West Africa for 2018?
In key figures:
USD84 million guarantees to be issued
1500 SMEs / SMI financed by our partners banks and financial institutions
Help to create 4500 jobs
-What about your projects in Southern Africa?
The Group’s strategic focus is complementary to its organic growth, external growth. Negotiations have started for the acquisition of a guarantee fund in South Africa.
-How will evolve AGF over the next two years?
The Group’s strategic objectives for 2021 are:
raise USD500 million
issue more than USD2 billion guarantee
to guarantee the financing of more than 10,000 SMEs / SMIs per year, allowing the creation of more than 30,000 jobs per year (with a focus on the jobs of women and young people)
Contribute to the development of green financing projects
maintain or improve our AA- rating
