Gabon appoints new head of $1.9bn investment fund
Gabon has appointed investment banker Ismaël Libizangomo to lead the Gabonese Strategic Investment Fund (FGIS).
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Gabon has appointed investment banker Ismaël Libizangomo to lead the Gabonese Strategic Investment Fund (FGIS), putting him in charge of an investment portfolio worth close to $1.9 billion.
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Gabon has appointed investment banker Ismaël Libizangomo to lead the Gabonese Strategic Investment Fund (FGIS), putting him in charge of an investment portfolio worth close to $1.9 billion. Libizangomo was appointed during a Cabinet meeting on 18 September, replacing Serge Brice Ngodjou as head of the fund.
FGIS manages investments across several parts of the economy, including infrastructure, energy, small and medium-sized businesses and regional development. Around $500 million of its assets are under direct management, according to reports on the appointment. The change gives Libizangomo responsibility for an institution that sits at the intersection of government investment and private-sector activity in Gabon.
A sizeable investment portfolio
“Libizangomo takes charge of an investment portfolio worth close to $1.9 billion, with about $500 million under direct management.”
FGIS is responsible for managing capital across a range of investments rather than focusing on one particular industry. Its portfolio includes infrastructure and energy projects, as well as investments linked to SMEs and regional development. This means the fund's decisions can involve projects with different investment timeframes and risk profiles.
For the new CEO, part of the job will be managing the fund's existing portfolio while overseeing new investment decisions. The nearly $1.9 billion in assets under management also makes FGIS a significant institutional investor in Gabon.
Libizangomo takes over from Ngodjou
Libizangomo replaces Serge Brice Ngodjou, who previously led the investment fund. The leadership change comes through Gabon's Cabinet, which approved the appointment on 18 September. Beyond the change at the top, the appointment puts attention on how FGIS will manage its investments under the new leadership. For companies looking for investment or partnerships in areas covered by the fund, the direction taken by FGIS will be worth watching.
Where the fund invests
FGIS has investments linked to infrastructure, energy, SMEs and regional development. These are areas where access to long-term capital can be important, particularly for projects that require significant upfront investment. Infrastructure projects, for example, can require funding over several years before generating returns. Energy projects can also involve large capital requirements, while smaller businesses may need financing to expand.
FGIS therefore operates across investments of very different sizes and types. Its role also means that the fund is part of the wider investment landscape in Gabon, alongside commercial banks, private investors and development finance institutions.
What comes next
The immediate focus under Libizangomo will be the management of FGIS's existing portfolio and its future investment decisions. The fund has close to $1.9 billion in assets, giving the new CEO a substantial portfolio to oversee from the start. How that capital is allocated, which sectors receive new investment and how existing projects perform will provide a clearer picture of the direction FGIS takes under its new leadership. For now, the appointment marks a change at the top of one of Gabon's largest state-backed investment institutions.
