BVMAC launches incubator to stimulate CEMAC financial market.

This was during a press conference chaired by BVMAC Director General, Louis Banga Ntolo, at the Stock Exchange headquarters in Akwa. The presser brought together key institutional, financial and business stakeholders.

Among those represented were COSUMAF; the French Development Agency, AFD; African Development Bank, AfDB; International Finance Corporation, IFC–World Bank Group, UNICONGO and the Federation of Gabonese Enterprises, FEG. Banking and institutional actors such as Ecobank, FAGACE, the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, MINPMEESA, and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts, CCIMA, were also in attendance.

Targeting both large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, the ESPro initiative, it was said, seeks to address persistent structural weaknesses within the regional financial market. 

According to assessments by BVMAC, the sub-regional stock exchange continues to record low activity, marked by a limited number of listed companies, the predominance of government securities, and a weak equity culture among private sector operators.

Speaking to the press, Banga Ntolo described the incubator as a practical response to these challenges. He said the programme is aimed at providing structured and progressive support capable of transforming business potential into viable stock market opportunities.

The ESPro programme is built around a comprehensive framework that includes market awareness and training, compliance with corporate governance and financial transparency standards, as well as preparation for fundraising. 

Participating companies will receive technical support in view of initial public offerings, IPOs and bond issuances, in line with international market requirements.

One of the key innovations of the ESPro programme is its post-IPO support mechanism. For a period of twelve months after listing, beneficiary companies will receive enhanced technical assistance, particularly in liquidity management and compliance with reporting obligations, to strengthen investor confidence and ensure sustainable market performance.

Through the ESPro incubator, BVMAC said it is looking up to promote a more inclusive and dynamic financial market. 

The initiative forms part of the Stock Exchange’s 2026 Action Plan, which seeks to democratise access to the capital market and position it as a key driver of economic growth and development within the CEMAC zone.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3693 of Wednesday February 04, 2026