ABIDJAN, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Ivorian government to establish a representative office in Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire.

The bank, the development finance institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aims to boost regional development and facilitate economic growth in the country and the wider region, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

In Cote d'Ivoire, the EBID will be involved in various sectors, including the construction of hotel complexes, establishing lines of credit to banks in support of small-and medium-sized enterprises, and backing agro-industrial projects.

During the signing ceremony, Ivorian Foreign Minister Leon Kacou Adom described the agreement as a significant milestone in the cooperation between the EBID and Cote d'Ivoire.

Adom emphasized that the agreement reflects Cote d'Ivoire's strong commitment to regional economic integration.

"It demonstrates our faith in the ideals and values of a dynamic regional economic community, essential for addressing the pressing challenges faced by West Africa," he said. ■