This information is derived from the State Department's Office of Investment Affairs' 2015 Investment Climate Statement. Any questions on the ICS can be directed to EB-ICS-DL@state.gov
Last Published: 6/15/2016

The STP government is anxious to attract foreign portfolio investment but struggles to attract investors because there are few attractive investment opportunities.  While the regulatory system in principle is conducive to foreign portfolio investment, there are currently no known significant U.S. investors active in STP and there is little understanding of the functionality of STP's capital markets. 
 

Money and Banking System, Hostile Takeovers

STP has eight private commercial banks.  Portuguese, Angolan, Nigerian, Cameroonian, and Togolese interests (as well as those of STP) are represented in the ownership and management of the commercial banks.  The Gabonese Investment Bank opened its Sao Tomean operation in March 2012.  

In addition to retail banking, commercial banks offer most corporate banking services, or can procure them from overseas.  Local credit to the private sector is limited and expensive, but available to both foreign and local investors on equal terms.  The country's main economic actors finance themselves outside STP.  Commercial banks have transferred excess liquidity to correspondent banks outside the region.

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