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Analysis

Political football: Hosting the CAN has brought benefits beyond the world of sport
OBG
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The year 2012 has been a memorable one for Gabon so far, co-hosting with Equatorial Guinea football’s African Cup of Nations (Coupe d’Afrique des Nations, CAN), one the world’s most important sporting events, for the first time in its history. FACILITIES: The country spent two years preparing to welcome fans, players and the media for the 28th CAN. With a budget of €155m, projects to…

Analysis

Room for improvement: Developing affordable accommodation remains a top priority
OBG
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Despite Gabon’s vaunted initiative to stimulate growth in tourism, the sector still suffers from some restrictive bottlenecks, and nowhere is that more evident than the issue of room capacity. Business visitors to Libreville and Port-Gentil have long grappled with high prices for accommodation – even by Central African standards – while leisure visitors until recently had only the slimmest…

Analysis

Investment in aviation taking off: Boosting competition with new actors and infrastructure projects
OBG
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Efforts are under way to fulfil the potential of Gabon’s air transport sector by improving national infrastructure and strengthening the regulatory context. Numerous projects are expected to boost both passenger numbers and sector competition in the medium term. NEW INFRASTRUCTURE: The sector’s primary infrastructure project is a proposal to construct a new international airport in Andème,…

Analysis

Partnerships for prevention: Treatments, vaccines and awareness campaigns are prioritised
OBG
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While the economy grows, social indicators in Gabon lag behind. Consequently, the government has committed to developing a national health policy to improve access to quality health care. To pursue this goal, Gabon has devised a national health plan 2011-15 (Plan National de Développement Sanitaire, PNDS), to accelerate reforms and give the country a boost towards achieving its Millennium Development…

Analysis

Making room for growth: Infrastructure upgrades are meant to accommodate higher maritime trade flows
OBG
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A major investment in its port infrastructure is under way in anticipation of rising demand due to Gabon’s economic expansion. Activity is picking up across a number of sectors that rely on external trade, including mining, construction and forestry, and the Office of Ports and Harbours (Office des Ports et Rades du Gabon, OPRAG) reported a corresponding 57% increase in container exports in 2011.…

Analysis

Skills for jobs: Efforts to expand technical education are under way
OBG
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Improving technical and vocational training has become a top priority for Gabon as it looks to shift the focus of education towards more marketable skills and align programmes with the demands of the labour market, especially growth sectors such as mining and forestry. TECHNICAL SCHOOLS: Indeed, Gabon currently suffers from a shortage in technical and managerial competences, particularly in…

Analysis

Opening up new avenues: Global partners are driving much of the transport network’s expansion
OBG
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International financing has driven much of the expansion of Gabon’s transport network, either through foreign direct investment (FDI) or loans, grants and other forms of assistance. While the government is committed to investing in infrastructure upgrades, officials also recognise the critical role foreign companies and financial institutions must play in creating the efficient, interconnected…

Overview

Lush and varied: The country boasts a diverse ecosystem and a complex history
OBG
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Straddling the equator along Central Africa’s western coast, Gabon is a former French colony of 1.5m people with a territory covered up to 85% by equatorial rainforest. Following the colonial period (1886-1960), the country’s first president, Léon Mba, ruled Gabon until his death in 1967. He was followed into office by Omar Bongo Ondimba, who occupied the post until 2009. Later that year,…

Overview

Moving along: While political reforms are taking time, progress is being made
OBG
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The defining trait of Gabon’s political climate for the past 40 years has been that of stability. While the first decade of independence saw a modicum of unrest and a coup, the country has in general seen little of the turbulence that has plagued other countries in the region. This long-term stability is due in large part to the lengthy tenure of Omar Bongo Ondimba, who for more than 20…

Overview

A regional leader: Oil remains dominant, but state-led efforts to diversify are under way
OBG
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Since 1953, when oil was first discovered near Port-Gentil, Gabon’s economy has been dominated by the petroleum industry. According to the BP “Statistical Review of World Energy 2012”, Gabon is the sixth-largest crude oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa and has the region’s fourth-largest proven reserves. Years of oil rents have lifted Gabon firmly into the ranks of the upper-middle-income…