The election of Professor Kelly Mua Kingsley as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) marks an important step for Cameroon and Africa. This brilliant financial engineer, recognised internationally, is taking over the reins of a key institution that facilitates trade and investment in 24 member states. His first challenge: to convince the remaining countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) to join the organisation, in order to strengthen regional integration and boost economic exchanges.
ATIDI, a pillar of African economic development
Founded in 2001, ATIDI plays a key role in reducing the risks associated with investments in Africa. Through political risk insurance, investment guarantees and credit insurance, the institution protects African companies and foreign investors against economic uncertainties. Professor Kingsley sees the institution as a unique opportunity to capitalise on the continent’s immense resources, young demographics and rapidly expanding technology sector. His ambition is to make Africa a destination of choice for international capital, supported by transparent governance and modern infrastructure.
Under his leadership, ATIDI aims to simplify investment processes, encourage innovation and adopt sustainable practices in line with international standards. Professor Kingsley will place particular emphasis on collaboration between governments and the private sector, which he sees as crucial to creating a resilient environment capable of attracting foreign investment while supporting local entrepreneurship.
A mandate focused on regional integration
One of the central objectives of Professor Kingsley’s mandate will be to strengthen regional cooperation, particularly within CEMAC. Currently Cameroon’s representative on the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance, he hopes to bring together all the CEMAC member states under the ATIDI umbrella, in order to stimulate cross-border trade in countries such as Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His election, the first for a Cameroonian to this position, is seen as a strong signal of ATIDI’s commitment to increasing its influence in Central Africa.
Financial expertise and an impressive career
A graduate of the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School and holder of multiple financial certifications, Professor Kingsley has over 25 years’ experience in a variety of disciplines including forensic finance, financial crime fighting and financial investigations. He has also lent his expertise to renowned international institutions such as the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In addition to her institutional roles, Kelly Mua Kingsley is a distinguished author, with 45 books and over 200 academic articles to her credit. Alongside Christina Westholm-Schröder, recently elected Vice-Chair of the ATIDI Board, he will work to broaden the investor base and raise the profile of the organisation across Africa.
A promising future for ATIDI
Under Kingsley’s leadership, ATIDI will continue to play a key role in facilitating trade and investment in Africa. The institution has already secured projects worth 85 billion dollars (more than 51,000 billion CFA francs), a figure that could grow dramatically as the CEMAC countries become more integrated and adopt sustainable investment practices.
With a solid financial rating, recently confirmed by Moody’s (A2/Stable) and Standard & Poor’s (A/Stable), ATIDI is in an excellent position to pursue its mission. Kelly Mua Kingsley’s leadership could well transform this organisation into a cornerstone of African development, promoting a more interconnected and economically resilient continent.
The Editorial Team
