In a significant move to accelerate Guinea's economic transformation, Ecobank Guinea organized a forum in Conakry on September 23, 2026, to discuss mobilizing long-term financing. The event, themed "Mobilizing Capital to Transform the Guinean Economy," brought together public authorities, financial institutions, businesses, and capital market actors. The goal was to foster dialogue among stakeholders and raise awareness about available financing instruments and capital market opportunities for Guinean companies.
According to Diawando Bah, Ecobank Guinea's Director General, the forum was timed to coincide with a critical juncture in the country's economic history. With a sovereign rating of B+ from S&P in September 2025, growth prospects of over 10% from 2026-2028, and the ambitious Simandou 2040 vision, Guinea has considerable potential. However, a significant challenge remains: the country's credit market is limited, representing only 9.2% of GDP and primarily focused on short-term financing.
The forum aimed to bridge the gap between the country's ambitions and its financing capacity by diversifying capital sources and leveraging financial markets. Ecobank Guinea's Director General emphasized the need for a more substantial and sustainable financing approach to support infrastructure, business, and production capacity investments. The bank seeks to strengthen its role in mobilizing capital to address the growing financing needs of large projects in Guinea.
Thierno Sadou Diallo, Ecobank's Capital Markets Manager, highlighted the establishment of a new capital markets bureau. This bureau will enable the bank to expand its intervention and accompaniment capacity for economic actors, utilizing its local balance sheet and partnering with regional and international investors to secure substantial funding. Diallo stated that Ecobank can mobilize significant amounts, exceeding $100 million, to support clients.
The Guinea Development Board (GDB) presented a portfolio of 15 projects covering strategic sectors, with a total Capex of around $11 billion. M'Bamba Sylla, GDB's Deputy Director, noted that Guinea now has a structured portfolio of opportunities to present to investors. The projects were selected based on criteria such as structuration, feasibility, and potential for private, mixed, or concession-based development.
Karamo Kaba, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea, stressed the importance of attracting long-term investors to support Guinea's transformation. He highlighted the country's stability, with a positive outlook from rating agencies and a growth rate of around 11% projected from 2027-2029. The governor emphasized that attracting capital is not enough; it must create value in Guinea, focusing on local content, subcontracting, technology transfer, and national skills development.
The development of capital markets is seen as a key solution to addressing the financing needs of businesses and large projects. The forum provided a platform for stakeholders to explore opportunities and challenges in mobilizing capital for Guinea's economic transformation under the Simandou 2040 program. With its significant potential and growth prospects, Guinea aims to attract investors and create value for its population.
Key points
- Ecobank Guinea organized a forum to discuss mobilizing capital for the country's economic transformation under the Simandou 2040 program.
- The forum aimed to foster dialogue among stakeholders and raise awareness about available financing instruments and capital market opportunities for Guinean companies.
- Guinea's economic transformation requires significant capital, and the country must attract long-term investors to support its development.
