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Interview

Salim Kaddouri, Director-General, CIMAF Gabon; and Deputy Director-General, Cimgabon: Interview
OBG
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Interview: Salim Kaddouri What are the main drivers of growth in the construction sector at this time? SALIM KADDOURI: As an emerging economy, Gabon’s public infrastructure segment presents the best opportunities for growth given the number of roads and bridges remaining to be built. Unlike more developed economies, countries such as Gabon should consume around 500-550 kg of cement per capita per…
Interview

Nina Abouna, Director-General, National Investment Promotion Agency (ANPI): Interview
OBG
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Interview:Nina Abouna What are the main challenges facing foreign investors in Gabon in 2016? NINA ABOUNA: The major challenges facing investors are essentially linked to the economic climate facing the country today. The strong budgetary pressures brought about by the drop in oil prices had a perceptible impact on the private sector, most notably, through a decrease in investment. Macroeconomic…
Interview

Tsuyoshi Kamihira, CEO, Portek Group: Interview
OBG
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Interview: Tsuyoshi Kamihira How has shipping activity in Africa developed over the past five years? TSUYOSHI KAMIHIRA: In the years prior to 2014, we have observed steady volume growth, fuelled primarily by strong oil and commodity prices. Despite a slowdown, especially in 2015, Africa still offers opportunities, given that its economies have started on a low-growth basis, and investment in the…
Interview

Martial-Rufin Moussavou, Former Minister of Mining and Industry: Interview
OBG
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Interview: Martial-Rufin Moussavou What changes are planned for the mining code? MARTIAL-RUFINMOUSSAVOU: In an effort to increase local participation and more equal redistribution of the wealth generated from mining activities, we are discussing several amendments to the new law. The simplification of the institutional framework and the alleviation of requirements to acquire land and mining…
Interview

Pietro Amico, General Representative, Eramet Gabon: Interview
OBG
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Interview:Pietro Amico What is the current state of the manganese industry in Gabon, and what are its prospects? PIETRO AMICO: The sharp drop in commodity prices in 2015 has heavily impacted mining companies, including manganese producers. Operators were forced to adapt their production by restructuring their activities, resulting in a slowdown or even a partial shutdown of their operations. In…
Interview

Nicolas Balesme, Managing Partner, Deloitte Gabon, on the governance and benefits of public-private partnerships (PPPs): Interview
OBG
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Interview:Nicolas Balesme How can the wider implementation of PPPs benefit Gabon and its investors? NICOLAS BALESME: PPP schemes are relevant to international investors because they receive an agreed and regular income over the contract’s lifespan in return for services provided and costs incurred for investment, financing, design and construction, operation, maintenance and management of…
Interview

Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank (AfDB): Interview
OBG
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Interview:Akinwumi Adesina How can the vulnerability of African markets to global shocks be reduced? AKINWUMI ADESINA: Several commodity exporters in Africa, including South Africa, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and oil exporters such as Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of Congo have been severely hit by the dip in commodity prices and the…
Interview

Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade): Interview
OBG
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Interview:Lim Hng Kiang What are the advantages to investing in resource-rich African markets such as Gabon? LIM HNG KIANG: The challenging global near-term outlook for resource-based sectors has encouraged governments to intensify their economic diversification efforts. Resource-rich countries such as Gabon can strengthen their industrial bases against downturns in the commodity markets by…
Interview

Pierre Moussa, President, CEMAC Commission: Interview
OBG
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Interview:Pierre Moussa What do current economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations with the EU entail? PIERRE MOUSSA: The ongoing EPA negotiations between the EU and CEMAC are a result of findings published in the EU’s “Green Papers”, which showed that the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) had not fully benefited from non-reciprocal preferential trade arrangements.…
Interview

President Ali Bongo Ondimba: Interview
OBG
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Interview:President Ali Bongo Ondimba How effective has the Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan (Plan Stratégique Gabon Emergent, PSGE) been in achieving its goals? PRESIDENT ALI BONGO ONDIMBA: When I was named president in 2009, the world had just started to recuperate from the financial crisis of 2007-08. We were seeing how the economic and social model based on oil revenues was eroding and no…