Equatorial Guinea: Green ideas take flight with young, women and eco-entrepreneurs

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Not all airports have airplanes. Some,like the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture of Bioko,serve as runways for ideas ready to change the world. Recently,young women and men aged 18 to 35 arrived with eco-innovative projects under Project 19,an initiative designed to support sustainable entrepreneurship and protect the environment in the Congo Basin.

Project 19,funded by the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF),implemented by Dreams Hub – Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,and technically supported by Kosala,has been running for three months since its official launch on June 21. The initiative aims to provide young eco-entrepreneurs with training,mentorship,and institutional connections,helping their green ideas not only take root but soar globally.

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At the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture of Bioko,a century-old institution,President Benjamín Mitogo Bielo highlighted the Chamber’s role as an “airport,a gateway in and out for all businesses”,emphasizing its strategic importance in the national economy. The visit allowed participants to learn key bureaucratic processes,including legal options for establishing companies and registration procedures,providing essential tools for starting a business. To mark their commitment to sustainability,participants also conducted a tree-planting ceremony,leaving a lasting environmental legacy.

The day continued with visits to the Ministry of Commerce,including the National Institute for Business Promotion and Development (INPYDE),the General Directorate of SMEs,and the One-Stop Business Window,where participants explored institutional support programs and gained practical insights for scaling their green projects.

Through Project 19,the combination of youth leadership,creativity,sustainability,and institutional backing demonstrates that entrepreneurship can be more than a business: it can be a catalyst for change. In the Congo Basin,these youth-led green initiatives are taking root,promising jobs,innovation,and a greener,more dynamic future.