A notable emerging country of the sub region is certainly Equatorial Guinea, which in 2007 had the second highest GNP per capita (US$8250) in Africa after Seychelles (US$ 8650). Most countries in the sub region are becoming important oil producers - Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Gabon, etc.

The Central Africa sub region is important in the terms of the protection of the world environment and eco-systems. In July 2008, the Bank and a number of development partners, notably DFID, Canada and the Nordic countries established the Congo Basin Rain Forest Trust Fund.

To assist the countries of the region in their loan administration and portfolio management, the Bank has established a regional office in Libreville and number of country offices, including in Chad, Cameroon and RD Congo.

Countries, total land area and population

Central Africa comprises the following 8 countries: Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.

The total land area of the region is 5.366 million sq. km or 17.7% of the total area of the continent and a total population of 96.2 million people or 10.4% of the overall population of the continent.

GDP/GNP per capita and Bank Group country categories in the region

The GNP per capita of the region ranges from US$ 120 for Congo DR, to US$ 5010 for Gabon. In the sub-region, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea are eligible to borrow from the ADB window while the other six countries can borrow from ADF concessionary resources; they have with very limited access to ADB financing for private sector and enclave projects.

Share of Cumulative Bank Group lending in the region as at the end of 2007

The total cumulative Bank Group loan and grant approvals to the region from 1967 to 2007 amounted UA 4.3 billion (US$ 6.8 billion) representing 10% of the cumulative approvals for the period. The Democratic Republic of  Congo received the highest allocations (US$ 2.2 billion), followed by Gabon (US$ 1.5 billion), Cameroon (US$ 1.4 billion), Chad (US$ 644.3 million ), Congo (US$ 479.4 million), Central Africa Republic (US$ 235.8 million), Sao Tome and Principe (US$163.7 million) and Equatorial Guinea (US$ 106.2 million).

Sectoral distribution of Bank Group lending to the region

Infrastructure is the main beneficiary sector of cumulative Bank Group commitments to Central Africa in the total amount of about UA 2 billion (about US$3.1 billion) or 45.6% of the total approvals. Other key beneficiary sectors are multisector (18.3%), agriculture and rural development (16.5%) and social (10.4%).