Draft:Paulo Gomes (Guinea Bissau)

Paulo Gomes (Guinea-Bissau)

Paulo Gomes
File:Paulo Gomes.jpg
Born	1964 (age 59–60) Senegal
Nationality	Bissau-Guinean
Alma mater	Harvard University, Sciences Po, ILERI
Occupation(s)	Economist, Entrepreneur
Known for	World Bank Executive Director, Orango Investment Corporation, New African Capital Partners

Biography

Paulo Gomes (born 1964) is a prominent economist, sovereign advisor, entrepreneur, and former Executive Director at the World Bank, known for his extensive contributions to public sector development, private sector investments, and multilateral initiatives in Africa. He is the founder of Orango Investment Corporation, co-founder of New African Capital Partners and Alta Mar, and founder of Paulo Gomes & Partners. Gomes has also played an influential role in several African and international organizations, focusing on sustainable growth, health, and conservation. In 2015, he ran for president of Guinea-Bissau, coming in third place.

Early Life and Education

Paulo Gomes was born in 1964. He pursued his higher education in economics and international trade. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Institut d'études libres des relations internationales (ILERI) in Paris, France, and a Certificate in Political Studies from Sciences Po, also in Paris. He furthered his education at Harvard University, earning a Master of Public Administration (MPA) with honors in Economic Policy and Management from the Kennedy School of Government. He also attended an executive management program at Harvard Business School in 2004 and a Corporate Governance program at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2010.

Career

Public Sector

Gomes began his career in 1987 in Guinea-Bissau, where he worked at the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Trade as Principal Advisor to the Minister and Director of Strategic Planning, Public Investment, and Debt Department until 1995. During this time, he led strategic planning initiatives and played a key role in Guinea-Bissau's accession to the West African Monetary Union (UEMOA).

He served as an Alternate Executive Director (1998-2002) and Executive Director (2002-2006) at the World Bank, representing 24 Sub-Saharan African countries. Gomes played a vital role in advancing the African Agenda within the World Bank, focusing on regional integration, private sector development, and post-conflict reconstruction. He initiated several reforms, including pushing for the return of infrastructure projects to the Bank's priorities and developing regional integration policies.

Private Sector and Civil Society

Paulo Gomes co-founded multiple influential organizations. He is the founder of Orango Investment Corporation, which aims to leverage opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). He is also a co-founder of New African Capital Partners, an investment platform targeting high-growth sectors in emerging markets, and Alta Mar, an aquaculture company focused on sustainable seafood production. He is also the founder of Paulo Gomes & Partners, a strategic consulting and investment firm.

Gomes has held board memberships in several prominent organizations, including the Green Climate Fund, Ecobank, Asky Airlines, AFIG Private Equity Fund, and the African Capacity Building Foundation. He co-chairs the AfroChampions Initiative and serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Africa South East Asia Chamber of Commerce. He also played a key role in creating ASKY Airlines, inspired by the former Air Afrique, and is dedicated to improving connectivity in Africa.

Multilateral Involvement

In addition to his work at the World Bank, Paulo Gomes has contributed significantly to several multilateral initiatives. He played a crucial role in the creation of the African Finance Corporation (AFC) and served as a member of the Presidential Task Force for the Acceleration of NEPAD Projects in West Africa. He also supported efforts for regional integration projects within ECOWAS and advocated for the establishment of Presidential Investment Councils in Tanzania, Senegal, and Mali. He was instrumental in creating and leading the Committee on Governance and Administrative Matters (COGAM) within the World Bank to strengthen the African voice within the institution.

Other Activities

Gomes is deeply involved in conservation and health initiatives across Africa. He serves on the steering committee of the Pan African Conservation Trust (APACT) and is a member of the African Union COVID-19 Response Fund. He has also been a keynote speaker at major international forums, including the Harvard Africa Business Conference, the China-Africa Forum, and various events at the Centre for Global Development. He is the co-founder of the Bioguinee Foundation, dedicated to conserving protected areas in Guinea-Bissau. Gomes was also one of the founding board members of the Green Climate Fund.

Personal Life

Paulo Gomes is fluent in several languages and is a distinguished visiting fellow at the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies. He currently resides between Bissau, Dakar, and Rabat, and continues to work actively on initiatives that drive sustainable growth in Africa. Gomes has also produced a documentary on Amílcar Cabral to mark the centenary of the Pan-African leader's birth.

References

Sources

• Forbes Afrique. "Paulo Gomes, un Stratège Engagé dans l’Émergence de Multinationales Africaines." Forbes Afrique, Nov. 2024.
• Concordia. "Paulo Gomes - Concordia." Concordia, [1].
• EurAfrican Forum. "Paulo Gomes." EurAfrican Forum 2023, [2].
• Dragoman Global. "Paulo Gomes." Dragoman Global, [3].
• African Business. "Paulo Gomes Strikes Out with New Boutique." African Business, Feb. 2022, [4].
• Wikipedia (Portuguese). "Paulo Gomes (economista)." [5].