Douala Convention Urges Greater Capital Market Use for CEMAC Economies

The first Diamond Capital Convention ended in Douala on September 25 with financial market operators calling for stronger financial education, more investment products, and greater use of capital markets to finance businesses and economies across Central Africa. Organized by Almasi Capital & Advisory from September 23 to 25, the three-day event brought together nearly 3,000 participants, according to the organizers. Discussions focused on financial education, legal and operational security in financial markets, and ways to channel more savings into productive investment. The convention comes as the Central African financial market is expanding but continues to have a limited number of listed companies. At the end of 2025, the Central African Stock Exchange (BVMAC) had six listed companies and an equity market capitalization of CFAF 477.75 billion, according to data cited in a CEMAC report published by Cameroon’s Ministry of Economy. Free-float capitalization stood at CFAF 69.57 billion. The market changed significantly in May 2026, when BGFI Holding Corporation became the seventh company listed on the Douala-based exchange. Its entry pushed BVMAC’s equity market ...