Grace Ashiru
Gabon’s Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalisation and Innovation has delayed the closing event of KIMBA Connect’s debut edition, after participating startups raised concerns about how the programme was run.
In a statement, the ministry acknowledged the pushback from startups and thanked everyone who took part for their engagement with the initiative, which it has positioned as a flagship effort to deepen ties between large corporates and Gabon’s innovation ecosystem.
Officials said the volume and substance of the feedback actually reflect how much interest the programme has generated, and that the concerns will be folded into a formal review of the pilot edition as part of an ongoing improvement process. The ministry reiterated that transparency, fairness, dialogue and co-creation remain the values underpinning the programme.
To allow for better organisation and wider stakeholder input, the ministry said the finale’s date will be shifted, with a revised schedule to be announced later. It also restated its intent to keep working with Gabonese startups and corporate partners to build KIMBA Connect into a lasting platform for innovation, economic opportunity and the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.
