Gabriel Curtis is a Guinean politician and technocrat who held the position of Minister of Investments and Public-Private Partnerships from May 2018 to September 2021. A graduate of prestigious international universities including McGill and Columbia, he first pursued a career in finance in New York and London, notably at the Bank of New York Mellon, before returning to Guinea in 2014 to lead the Private Investment Promotion Agency (APIP-Guinea).
Multilingual, speaking French, English, and several local languages fluently, he distinguished himself through his rigor and effectiveness in improving the business climate in Guinea, helping to attract significant investments in the mining sector and implementing numerous economic and administrative reforms. Known for his pragmatism and results-oriented approach, Gabriel Curtis also played an active role in fighting the Ebola epidemic in 2014-2015 and represented Guinea at the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.
Introduction
Gabriel Curtis has established himself as one of the most notable figures on Guinea's political and economic scene. As the former Minister of Investments and Public-Private Partnerships from 2018 to 2021, his prestigious academic background and international experience in the financial sector enabled him to play a decisive role in improving Guinea's business climate.
Academic Background
Born in Guinea, Gabriel Curtis benefited from an international education from an early age. After attending Cours Sainte-Marie de Hann in Dakar (Senegal) between 1979 and 1984, he continued his education at the French lycée Albert-Camus in Conakry, then at the Paul-Claudel lycée in Ottawa where he obtained his baccalaureate in Economics with honors in 1992.
His university career is equally impressive. He graduated from McGill University (Montreal) with a specialization in Management Policy and International Management between 1992 and 1995, where he continued advanced studies in Finance and Marketing until 1996. He later earned a Master's degree in International Relations, with a focus on Finance and International Relations, from the prestigious Columbia University in New York (2005-2006).
His continuous education demonstrates his constant desire to perfect his skills: professional training in Bank Credit Management in New York (2007), presentation techniques and leadership (2011), and an executive course on oil, gas, and mining governance at Oxford University (2014).
International Career
Before joining Guinea's public sector, Gabriel Curtis built a solid career in international finance. He held the position of Vice President and Attorney-in-Fact at Sterling Merchant Finance Limited in Washington DC for seven years, working on financial sector development and privatization projects in several African countries.
He then joined the Bank of New York Mellon in New York as Vice President in the portfolio management department, where he developed the strategy document for implementing Basel II regulations. Transferred to London, he became Senior Manager responsible for risk management, capital, and reporting for the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.
During this period, he received several distinctions, notably the International Award from BNY Mellon's Risk and Compliance Department (2012) and the Circle of Excellence Award for exceeding set objectives (2011).
Return to Guinea
In February 2014, Gabriel Curtis chose to return to his country by taking over as Director General of the Private Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Guinea (APIP-Guinea). He also became the permanent secretary of the presidential council for private investments and public-private partnerships (CPI-PPP).
At the helm of APIP, he led a profound restructuring of the agency, developed the computerization of the one-stop shop with the launch of the Synergui tool allowing online business creation, and focused on highlighting investment opportunities in Guinea while supporting the Guinean private sector.
His rigor and results-oriented approach transformed APIP into a true laboratory of excellence and a privileged interlocutor for technical and financial partners. Under his leadership, the agency became a model of performance where Guinean talents with varied profiles worked together, united by the same demands for efficiency and self-improvement.
In 2017, his efforts were rewarded with the African Development Award for Best Artisan in Improving the Business Climate in Casablanca.
Ministerial Role
On May 26, 2018, Gabriel Curtis was appointed Minister of Investments and Public-Private Partnerships by presidential decree, a position he held until the dissolution of the government on September 5, 2021.
In this strategic position, he continued his work to improve the business climate and attract foreign investment. Under his leadership, Guinea implemented nearly 80 reforms in economic, administrative, legal, and governance areas, with the revision of numerous codes (mining, labor, investments, customs).
His actions contributed to notable advances: reducing business creation time to less than 48 hours (compared to one month previously), halving the timeframe for granting building permits, creating a one-stop shop for foreign trade, and implementing a credit information system.
In the mining sector, the flagship of Guinea's economy, Gabriel Curtis played a key role in its rehabilitation and modernization. Under his mandate, Guinea attracted $4 billion in mining investments between 2015 and 2019 (compared to $5 billion over the period 1950-2010). He also supervised the country's adherence to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and implemented a local content policy to maximize the benefits of mining for local populations.
A Visionary
A polyglot fluent in French, English, and Susu, with a good command of Fula and Spanish, Gabriel Curtis also assumed other important functions, notably as Guinea's Commissioner General for the 2020 World Expo in Dubai and coordinator of the design and implementation of the master plan for Kaloum and the Loos Islands.
During the Ebola epidemic (2014-2015), he committed himself as a resource person and volunteer representing the Presidency of the Republic on the National Committee for the Fight against Ebola, receiving a Certificate of Satisfaction from the National Response Coordination on December 30, 2015.
A Pragmatic Leader
Behind his displayed rigor lies a man passionate about photography, travel, and music (Guinean, Malian, Haitian, and jazz). A father of three children, Gabriel Curtis is recognized for his humility and pragmatism, inherited from his Anglo-Saxon culture.
His development models are Rwanda, Singapore, and Vietnam. He particularly focuses on technological innovation to position Guinea in globalization, convinced that it is through entrepreneurship and wealth creation that his country can meet its development challenges.
A laureate of the "Economic Leaders of Tomorrow" ranking by the Choiseul Institute 100 Africa (2014-2015) and patron of the 2016 Promotion of Mercure International University, Gabriel Curtis embodies this new generation of African leaders combining international expertise and commitment to the development of their country.
