OKOUME has been officially presented in Malabo as a new digital platform designed to transform how citizens, entrepreneurs and companies buy and sell products, offer services and access new opportunities. The launch event, held at Hotel Colinas, brought together government officials, entrepreneurs and business leaders, highlighting growing interest in digitalization, innovation and new models of commerce in Equatorial Guinea.
OKOUME was presented by Víctor Ele Ela, founder of Iniciativas Elebi and the driving force behind the platform. During the event, he demonstrated how the platform works and explained its main tools and functions for buyers, sellers, service providers and professionals.
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The platform seeks to address a pattern that has become increasingly common in the country’s commercial activity: the use of messaging applications, particularly WhatsApp, to advertise and exchange products and services.
While these informal channels have made it easier for individuals and businesses to connect, they can also make it difficult to organize listings, find specific products, manage large numbers of publications and distinguish relevant opportunities from the constant flow of messages.
OKOUME is designed to bring greater structure to that activity by creating a centralized digital environment where users can publish and search for products and services organized into different categories.
The platform also incorporates employment opportunities and event promotion, expanding its purpose beyond a conventional marketplace. Its developers envision OKOUME as a digital ecosystem capable of connecting consumers, businesses, professionals and people searching for opportunities.
The launch also featured a roundtable discussion titled “Present and Future of Mobile Applications and Digital Commerce in Equatorial Guinea.” Participants examined several issues shaping the country’s emerging digital economy, including payment infrastructure, fintech, electronic commerce, retail, application development and cybersecurity.
The presence of senior government officials further underscored the broader relevance of the discussion around digital transformation. Among those attending were Iván Bacale Ebe Molina, Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning; Milagrosa Obono Angüe, Minister Delegate for Finance, Budget and National Planning; Secretary of State for Finance María Ebiaca Moete; and the Minister of Economy, Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
For Equatorial Guinea’s entrepreneurs and businesses, the development of platforms such as OKOUME reflects a wider shift toward digital tools for commercial activity. By bringing different categories of products, services and opportunities together in one environment, the platform seeks to make it easier for users to discover what is available and connect directly with those offering it.
The launch represents another step in the development of Guinea Equatorial’s digital marketplace, with OKOUME positioning itself at the intersection of e-commerce, professional services, employment and local business promotion.
As the platform moves from its official presentation into wider use, its ability to attract businesses, service providers, consumers and professionals will determine how effectively it can transform informal digital commerce into a more structured and accessible marketplace.