(Ecofin Agency) - Guinea’s minister of posts, telecommunications and digital economy, Moustapha Mamy Diaby (picture), has declared that “the $50 million planned to revive the Sotelgui are not enough”. According to the official, “not even $100 million would be. What is needed is a dynamic private-public partnership to breathe life into the company, in order for it compete with other telephony operators present in the country”.   

Moustapha Mamy Diaby was talking to the delegation of the national assembly’s commission for communication, arts and culture, on the sidelines of a work session held last week at his ministry, mosaiqueguinee reports.

During the meeting, parliamentarians had indeed questioned the minister about the reviving of the Société des Télécommunications de Guinée (Sotelgui), state-owned telecom firm. 

The operation which is backed by Exim Bank of China and Huawei, was initiated in 2004. The Chinese telecom manufacturer was tasked to repair and modernize the operator’s equipment.

Sotelgui, it should be recalled, is closed since 2012, after going bankrupt as a result of poor management.