By Ajong Mbapndah L
Central Africa has reached a landmark moment in its financial development with the launch of Creditinfo Central Africa (CICA), the region’s first regional credit bureau, a move expected to significantly expand access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and strengthen economic growth across the CEMAC bloc.
Backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Banque des États de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC), Creditinfo Central Africa will serve all six member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC)—Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. The initiative represents a major step toward building a more transparent, efficient, and inclusive financial ecosystem in Central Africa.
CICA is designed to improve the quality and availability of credit data, reduce long-standing information gaps between lenders and borrowers, and strengthen risk management across the banking and financial services sector. By enhancing market transparency, the credit bureau is expected to enable financial institutions to make better-informed lending decisions, lower borrowing risks, and extend credit to a wider pool of businesses—particularly SMEs, which remain underfinanced despite their critical role in job creation and economic resilience.
The official launch in Cameroon was attended by Ethiopis Tafara, who made the visit during his first trip to the country as IFC Regional Vice President for Africa. He was joined by Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Director for Central Africa and Nigeria, as well as representatives from Cameroon’s public and private sectors. The discussions centered on the importance of building a strong, reliable, and transparent credit reporting system as a foundation for mobilizing private capital and supporting sustainable private sector–led growth.
For lenders, the regional credit bureau offers a powerful tool to assess creditworthiness and manage risk more effectively across borders. For borrowers—especially entrepreneurs and smaller businesses—it promises improved visibility, fairer lending terms, and increased opportunities to access finance. Over time, this is expected to contribute to more resilient financial systems, stronger investor confidence, and deeper regional financial integration within CEMAC.
The launch of Creditinfo Central Africa also underscores IFC’s broader development strategy in the region. Through strategic partnerships, targeted reforms, and investments in financial infrastructure, IFC is reaffirming its long-term commitment to Central Africa—mobilizing private capital, empowering entrepreneurs, and helping to build markets that work for people.
As Central African economies seek to diversify, grow, and create jobs, the establishment of a regional credit bureau marks a critical foundation for inclusive growth, signaling a new era of transparency and opportunity for businesses across the region.
