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Gabon invests in transport infrastructure for economic growth
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With a new urgency in the wake of falling oil prices, Gabon is in the midst of a significant overhaul of its transport infrastructure, rolling out a series of new projects to accelerate diversification efforts. Several of the investments – which include a new port and road upgrades – are scheduled for completion by the end of 2016. When finished, they should help reduce the country’s high transport…

Analysis

Gabon faces lower oil revenues and fiscal policy changes
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Against a backdrop of falling oil revenue, and despite sharp cuts in spending, and investment spending in particular, public finances slid into the red in 2015 with the country experiencing its first deficit in 17 years. However, both revenues and outlays are expected to recover slightly in 2016, and the authorities are seeking new ways to increase non-oil revenues and working with international backers…

Analysis

Gabon rolls out new integrated road and highway improvement programme
OBG
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As the cornerstone of the Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan, the national road network has been substantially upgraded since 2009, with the paving and improvement of approximately 650 km of roads across the country. Numerous road projects are under way, expected to deliver an additional 750 km of paved roads in 2016, and have the intended benefit of increasing economic activity in remote areas. Libreville In…

Analysis

Gabon's government digitising health care through ICT solutions
OBG
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In line with the government’s Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan, the ICT sector is rapidly expanding into many different areas of local life, from taxation to education to health. With an estimated 1.1m internet subscriptions as of March 2016, of which around 1.08m subscriptions were with mobile internet providers, Gabon has one of the highest internet penetration rates in Central Africa. As a result…

Analysis

Gabon's Nkok SEZ making an impact on industry and drawing in investment
OBG
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Special economic zones (SEZs) have become a popular way for governments around the world to try and accelerate investment in select sectors and industries, and for its part Gabon has seen more success than most. In an effort to attract the investment that was pledged under the Industrial Gabon pillar of the Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan, an SEZ framework was legislated in 2011, with the first SEZ built…

Analysis

Gabonese tourism sector helping to protect local wildlife
OBG
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One of the most biodiverse countries in West Africa, Gabon’s forests cover around 85% of the country’s territory and are home to more than 3000 different species of vegetation and at least 190 species of mammals, including forest elephants and hippopotamuses. As of 2015 the country had 23.6m ha of forests, according to a recent study by the country’s space agency, the Gabonese Agency for Spacial…

Analysis

Gabon's metallurgical segment takes off and boosts local mining sector
OBG
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As part of the government’s plans to promote value addition under the Industrial Gabon pillar of the Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan, the processing of minerals has seen some key developments. President Ali Bongo Ondimba announced a decision in mid-2016 to ban raw material exports by 2020, suggesting that even minerals would have to undergo some value addition. While scrap metal recycling is picking…

Analysis

Gabonese investments in palm oil reshaping industrial sector
OBG
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The markets of West Africa import 1.9m tonnes of palm oil every year, used mainly for cooking, according to a March 2016 report from Lagos-based newspaper Mail&Guardian Africa. The commodity currently fetches around $686 per tonne, and in recent years the price has been relatively stable. Given the substantial demand, Gabon is hoping to displace Malaysia and Indonesia – the two largest producers…

Analysis

Gabon offering sector-specific training for employees in tourism
OBG
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In 2015 Gabon’s tourism sector directly supported 4000 jobs, accounting for 1% of total employment, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. With the rollout of the National Tourism Strategy (Stratégie Nationale du Tourisme, SNT) 2015-25, authorities expect the tourism sector to create around 20,000 jobs by 2025, an ambitious goal requiring additional capacity in terms of education and…

Analysis

Gabon makes education sector a priority for economic growth
OBG
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One of the three key pillars of the Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan is Services Gabon, which addresses the development of a skilled labour force and aims to establish the country as a regional centre for financial services, tertiary education, health and environmentally sustainable development. To this end, efforts are now under way to increase the number of schools and training institutions, train and…