Interview: Daniel Ona Ondo How can the development of basic infrastructure boost economic growth and reduce poverty? DANIEL ONA ONDO: Basic infrastructure is crucial in fostering economic growth and reducing poverty in our country. A serious lack of infrastructure is a source of weak performance, and countries that invest in infrastructure certainly experience better growth rates and social indicators.…
Interview:Magloire Ngambia How is the Gabonese government encouraging growth throughout the country and tackling the specific challenge of decentralising investments? MAGLOIRE NGAMBIA: In 2014 Gabon adopted the Law of Decentralisation. The roll out of this legislation should be promulgated shortly. Once implemented, we expect gradual and sustained development of the whole country, taking into…
Interview:Madeleine Berre How can the government and private sector encourage the creation of companies? MADELEINE BERRE: The creation of new businesses has been a main concern for all economic players. The government has implemented a policy aimed at fostering employment prospects and encouraging entrepreneurship through the creation of new firms. In order to accomplish these objectives, a…
Interview:Thierry Mickoto What are the short- and mid-term strategic sectors identified by the FGIS at a national level? THIERRY MICKOTO: Within the framework of our investment strategy, designed to be in line with the Emerging Gabon strategic plan and its main pillars, the FGIS has identified certain sectors with considerable growth potential in the mid term. In light of the current data,…
Interview:Nina Abouna What will be the main functions of the planned single service window and how will it benefit international investors? NINA ABOUNA: On April 9, 2014, the government signed a loan agreement for $18m in order to finance the Promotion of Investment and Competitiveness Project aimed at improving the investment climate and supporting the development of companies in the country.…
Interview:Etienne Dieudonné Ngoubou What measures are planned in the new hydrocarbons code to ensure better integration of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? ETIENNE DIEUDONNÉ NGOUBOU: The new hydrocarbons code, launched by President Ali Bongo Ondimba in the Emerging Gabon development plan, has three main objectives: optimise petroleum revenues, promote an industrial fabric in the…
Interview:Jacqueline Bignoumba What is contributing to the current skills shortage? JACQUELINE BIGNOUMBA: Nowadays, 90% of oil industry jobs are done by locals. The Gabonisation process implies inserting as many locals as possible into management positions through targeted knowledge-transfer training or programmes. However, the real problem in Gabon is the shortage of population, which affects…
Interview:Désiré Guedon What are the main obstacles to improving electricity and water production? DÉSIRÉGUEDON: The current network has been structurally deficit for the last 15 years. The supply of electricity and water should reflect demand, urban development and the need to diversify energy sources. In this regard, the government aims to change the current situation by reinforcing…
Interview:Nicholas Cooper What is the potential in deepwater offshore blocks? NICHOLAS COOPER: Gabon remains an underexplored, attractive margin that displays all the characteristics of multiple working petroleum systems. Our understanding of these distal margins is ever evolving as new well information and high-quality seismic data become available. Multiple major discoveries at the very distal…
Interview:Jean-Luc Wilain How can Gabon increase production in the fisheries sector and realise its full potential? JEAN-LUC WILAIN: It varies according to the segment. Industrial fishing of tuna is experiencing satisfactory volumes and should maintain its current level. Concerning small pelagic fish like sardines, fishing activities remain marginal compared to the potential estimated by the…
