Investing in Africa
Marc Konan is Managing Director of Cofina Services France. An international executive with a background in auditing at Mazars, entrepreneurship in Ghana and retail banking, he now heads up the European branch of a pan-African group present in eight countries. His mission is to structure diaspora savings to create sustainable value on the continent.
A career forged by entrepreneurial agility
Before heading up Cofina Services France in Paris, Marc Konan lived the entrepreneurial adventure in Ghana. With $10,000 in capital and two partners who had just graduated in chemistry, he set out to make soap and various cleaning products by hand in a garage. This foray into the local industrial sector led him to prospect Accra’s French-speaking community of restaurateurs and hoteliers. The strategic turning point came when he met the head of the Accor group in Ghana, who agreed to place an order. This prestigious reference served as leverage to conquer the entire surrounding hotel market, with the company now providing complete cleaning solutions (floor care, laundry, catering). At the same time, he founded the urban media company Enjoy Accra to support new arrivals. This hands-on experience has given him a keen understanding of the realities of the continent.
“We made soap in a garage, earning $300 a month. It was a tough time, but you have to believe in your ideas.”
It’s this culture of resilience and networking that today permeates his management of Cofina Services France, which he defines not as a classic banking “liner”, but as a “speedboat” capable of adapting quickly to the specific needs of its customers.
Mesofinance, the missing link in the creative process
Cofina is positioned in the mesofinance (or missing middle) segment. This involves supporting entrepreneurs who are too big for microcredit, but not yet structured enough for conventional banks.
The creative sector is not to be outdone. Marc Konan recently approved financing for a fashion designer of Cameroonian origin wishing to set up in a shopping mall in Abidjan. With a working capital loan of 15,000 euros, this designer was able to take a crucial step in his development.
The keys to success for the diaspora: savings and sizing
For Marc Konan, investing in the country should not be an improvised adventure. He identifies two cardinal points for any project:
- Prior savings: the foundation of credibility. Cofina Services France offers products such as “Épargne Prêt”, where the habit of saving for six months triggers financing of up to 300% of the amount set aside.
- Right sizing: The classic diaspora mistake is to think too big too fast. The teams at Cofina Services France advise project leaders to help them build sustainable, profitable initiatives.
Financial education
Aware of the obstacles posed by a lack of financial education, Marc Konan organizes focus groups and masterclasses at his offices in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. The aim is to raise awareness among entrepreneurs (students, working people or future retirees) of the need to keep accounts, even simplified ones.
Cofina Services France doesn’t just lend, it also secures property investments through its subsidiary Logilis, offering a reliable alternative to the informal channels that can sometimes lead to disappointment.
Union, discipline and hard work
For Marc Konan, Africa’s future lies in a united and structured diaspora. Drawing on the values of unity, discipline and hard work, he invites every entrepreneur to take his or her place in the African ecosystem.
Cofina Services France is the bridge between Europe and Africa, transforming return projects into concrete economic successes.
Read also
