CREATION OF CREDIT RATING AGENCIES IN THE CEMAC ZONE : Geneva Investment Corporation submits the first Licensing Application to Cosumaf

(LVDE) – Geneva Investment Corporation (GNV Invest Rating S.A.) submitted a licensing application in November 2025 to the Central African Financial Market Supervisory Commission (Cosumaf). This initiative could mark the birth of the sub-region’s first local financial rating agency, expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026.

In early November 2025, Geneva Investment Corporation (GNV Invest Rating S.A.), a newcomer to Cameroon’s financial landscape, took a decisive step by submitting its licensing application to Cosumaf. Specializing in assessing the solvency risk of banks, insurance companies, microfinance institutions, and even States, the company aims to position itself as a pioneer in a field previously dominated by international players. With an initial capital of 100 million CFA francs, GNV Invest Rating S.A. is compliant with Regulation No. 01/22/Cemac/Umac/CM/Cosumaf, which, since July 2022, authorizes the creation of rating agencies in the Cemac zone.

The regulator has 60 days to issue a decision. While awaiting its response, GNV Invest Rating S.A. has shared its vision with investors on LinkedIn and launched job postings in October 2025. Based in Douala, the agency plans to begin operations in the first quarter of 2026.

GNV Invest Rating S.A. is committed to evaluating the credit risk of a wide range of economic and financial actors. Beyond analyzing banking institutions, it will also focus on insurance companies and microfinance institutions, which play an essential role in financial inclusion in Central Africa. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of the regional economy, will also benefit from its services, improving their access to financing and their credibility.

👉🏾 Stay informed in real time on our WhatsApp channel

A particularly significant aspect of the agency is its ability to rate Cemac member States. This could complement the assessments of major international rating agencies while offering a regional perspective on public debt sustainability—especially as several countries seek to raise funds on international financial markets.

However, GNV Invest Rating S.A. faces several imminent challenges. The first concerns the development and recognition of its analytical methodology. This methodology must take into account various elements such as the legal framework, the economic and political environment, governance issues, and relevant financial ratios. Transparency, independence, and analytical rigor will be essential pillars for gaining the trust of investors and institutions.

Experts emphasize that the methodology must also align with international standards, as investors operate in regulated environments with universal performance indicators. Thus, even if GNV Invest Rating S.A. offers an approach tailored to African economies, it will still need to meet the expectations of international stakeholders to secure a lasting position in the market.

With the arrival of this first local rating agency, the future of the financial landscape in the Cemac zone appears to be entering a new era, offering innovative prospects for economic actors across the region.

Raphael Mforlem