Amethis

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), a public limited liability company under a private sector initiative spearheaded by the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry with the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In the early 1980’s foreign and state-owned banks dominated the banking industry in West Africa. Commercial banks in West Africa owned and managed by the African private sector were a rarity. Its founders created ETI with the objective of filling this vacuum. The Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce promoted and initiated a project to create a private, regional banking institution in West Africa. In 1984, Ecopromotions S.A. was incorporated. Its founding shareholders raised seed capital for feasibility studies and the promotional activities leading to the creation of ETI. In October 1985, ETI was incorporated with authorised capital of US$100 million. The initial paid up capital of US$32 million was raised from over 1,500 individuals and institutions from West African countries. The largest shareholder was the ECOWAS Fund for Cooperation, Compensation and Development (ECOWAS Fund), the development finance arm of ECOWAS. Ecobank signed a Headquarters’ Agreement with the Government of Togo in 1985, which granted it the status of an international organisation. This status came with the rights and privileges necessary for ETI to operate as a regional institution, including the status of a non-resident financial institution. ETI commenced operations with its first subsidiary in Togo in March 1988.

Econet Wireless Global is a leading telecommunications provider, primarily known for its extensive mobile and fixed wireless telephony services. Established in Zimbabwe in 1998, the company has significantly expanded its network, becoming the largest telecommunications operator in the country. Econet offers a wide range of services, including internet access, payment solutions, and enterprise networks, while also pioneering data services with the introduction of 3G technology. The company has invested in building a comprehensive fiber optic network and continues to enhance its infrastructure to accommodate a growing subscriber base. In addition to telecommunications, Econet has diversified into various sectors, including fintech, cloud services, and data centers. The company's mission focuses on empowering individuals through technology to foster economic growth, and it actively engages in social responsibility initiatives that support education and community development across Zimbabwe.