Two business leaders have launched a new investment and advisory firm focusing on equity investments and trade and corporate finance in Africa.

New African Capital Partners (NACP) will initially invest in both small and large brands in the financial services sector. It will also offer financial advisory services within trade finance, fundraising and business organisation, and assist governments with implementing innovative schemes and projects to raise funds, including green bonds.

Incorporated in Mauritius, NACP is founded by Charles Kie, a former Ecobank executive, and Paulo Gomes, previously CEO at Constelor Investment Holdings and a former leader of the World Bank’s Sub-Saharan African region.

Commenting on the launch, Gomes says NACP will particularly look at bringing opportunities to companies that trade intra-Africa and between Africa and Asia.

“We are mapping and analysing specific industries, ecosystems and the companies to pinpoint those that have the growth potential to become the African champions of tomorrow,” he says. “For example, we intend to support the emergence of a multinational pan-African financial services platform built around the highest standards of the industry.”

Kie, who is now the firm’s CEO, adds: “We’ve realised that there have been many years of discussions about how to drive the growth of African businesses, economies and trade, but that in reality very little has been done to execute some of the ideas and proposals generated to transform Africa into its rightful role as a global powerhouse. At NACP we will be focusing our investments on industries that can build sustainable economic growth pan-Africa, and particularly those that foster regional integration.”