The founding of the Customs and Economic Union of Central African States (UDEAC) by the five (05) Heads of State of Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Gabon and Chad, joined by Equatorial Guinea in 1983, laid the foundations for the creation of an additional instrument of economic integration. For instance, in 1975, they decided to establish BDEAC as a specialized agency in charge of the development financing within the member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). Today, after several years financing integrating projects across Central Africa, the Bank is positioning itself as "a reference partner for human development and regional integration" in the CEMAC area, as set out in its new Strategic Plan 2017-2022.