• BCEG says amount lent for 175 projects

• Government provides CFA 30B in credit guarantees to support SMEs

• Bank aims to boost non-oil growth and local entrepreneurship
  

Ten months after launching operations, Gabon’s Banque pour le commerce et l’entrepreneuriat du Gabon (BCEG) has reported promising early results, lending 7.7 billion CFA francs ($13.6 million) to businesses across the country.

The institution, fully funded by Gabonese public and private investors, began operations in December 2024. Since then, it has financed 175 projects and opened more than 3,100 accounts, according to data released by the bank.

Most of the financing has gone to the transport sector (33%), construction and public works (28%), and trade (14%).

Government-Backed Guarantees

The Gabonese government backed the initiative with credit guarantees totaling 30 billion CFA francs. The package includes a 5 billion CFA guarantee through the Société de Garantie du Gabon (SGG), the 20 billion CFA FAMAD Fund, and the 5 billion CFA CARTR Fund, specifically aimed at financing the agricultural sector.

These guarantees are designed to reduce the bank’s risk exposure and make credit more accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and very small businesses (VSEs), which often struggle to obtain financing.

With a startup capital of 17 billion CFA francs, BCEG’s mission is to support local entrepreneurship and strengthen the role of SMEs, which account for more than 80% of Gabon’s businesses.

The bank’s activities align with the government’s broader drive to revive and diversify the economy beyond oil. According to the General Directorate of Economy and Fiscal Policy (DGEFP), non-oil sector growth is expected to reach 9.2% by 2026, nearly triple the current rate. The goal is to boost job creation and promote more inclusive growth.

Sandrine Gaingne