Gabon Economic Research Highlights

Economic News & Views on Africa

Ali Boumediene, CEO, Bomare

On boosting Algeria’s potential to export technology to new markets

African gas suppliers look to meet Europe’s future LNG demand

OBG

plus

As the EU works to rebalance its gas supply away from Russia, African countries are expected to gain a larger share of the bloc’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) market in the coming years. Last month the EU announced that it would launch the first tenders for joint gas purchases in April, with contracts expected to be signed by June. This novel approach seeks to leverage the bloc’s purchasing power to secure supplies at lower prices ahead of the summer when EU countries are expected to refill their underground gas storage...

The future of commercial drone delivery in global and local supply chains

OBG

plus

Emerging markets are capitalising on commercial drone technology to overcome logistics challenges and revolutionise supply chains for many goods and services, with expected benefits for last-mile delivery. While unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are often associated with military usage, commercial UAV usage has grown substantially in recent years as e-commerce and logistics companies increasingly look to drones to enable more efficient delivery. Research firm GlobalData predicts that commercial drones will replace...

Global CEO Survey: What is on the horizon for emerging markets?

While the recovery period following the Covid-19 pandemic saw the unlocking of major capital in emerging markets, inflationary pressures, fluctuating commodity prices and geopolitical concerns have since tempered the global economic outlook for 2023. Balancing opportunity and risk has become a priority for shareholders and investors, but emerging markets have remained resilient. Some regions, such as the Gulf, are looking to funnel elevated hydrocarbons revenue into sustainable mega-projects, whereas leaders in Asia...

In infographics: Boosting local value added in agricultural commodities in Côte d’Ivoire

OBG

plus

Côte d’Ivoire agriculture sector, which accounts for roughly one-fifth of GDP and employs two-thirds of the population, is a core sector of the economy with global significance. The country is a key exporter of cocoa, cashew nuts, palm oil, bananas, coffee, rubber, kola nuts and cotton. Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s leading cocoa producer and shares the title of number-one cocoa grinder with the Netherlands. It is also the top cashew nut exporter and was the leading producer of sweet bananas in 2017...

Ismail Ersahin Executive Director, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)

On leveraging economic zones to bolster development

How agri-tech start-ups are driving investment in emerging markets

OBG

plus

Even as global funding levels drop, agri-tech start-ups remain a key driver of investment in emerging markets as they work to make farming greener, more productive and more climate resilient. Global investment in agri-tech start-ups totalled $10.6bn in 2022, down 13% from 2021 – a record funding year for global start-ups – but ahead of the 2020 figure of $7bn. This matched a general downwards trend in venture capital activity, as investors became more cautious amid global headwinds and deepening fears of recession...

Emerging economies aim to maximise resources with a four-day work week

OBG

plus

With the Covid-19 pandemic having changed how people learn, shop and do business, many markets and companies are experimenting with new ways to unlock potential productivity while improving workforce well-being. A recent study organised in the UK by non-profit 4 Day Week Global looked at the effects of a four-day work week at 61 companies with a total of around 2900 workers from June to December 2022. The pilot programme included both non-profit and private firms in sectors including...

Shifting oil market creates export opportunities for emerging markets producers

OBG

plus

With EU bans on Russian oil and oil-product exports set to go into effect this year in response to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, emerging market producers are poised to gain larger shares of an evolving market. EU bans against Russian oil products such as diesel were rolled out earlier this month, following bans on Russian seaborne crude oil exports that began last December. Last week, Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of France’s TotalEnergies, said that there is “no longer a unified oil market… With all these bans, we are creating a grey...

African start-ups were a bright spot in the global funding ecosystem in 2022

OBG

plus

As rising borrowing costs and recession concerns weighed on global venture capital investment in 2022, Africa’s start-up ecosystem attracted record funding. While most regions experienced double-digit declines in start-up funding last year, Africa posted gains in total investment volume, deals and number of investors. Start-up funding on the continent grew by roughly 5% in 2022, compared to a decline of 62% in Latin America and 39% in Asia Pacific. Globally, venture capital funding was down 35% at $445bn, albeit still well...

Can MENA capture a share of the green steel market?

OBG

plus

As the global industrial sector seeks to shrink its carbon footprint, a number of MENA countries are investing in green steel production to capture market share and help meet emissions targets. Despite generating 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, industry has been slow in adopting carbon-efficient manufacturing technologies. Steel is the manufacturing segment with the largest emissions, accounting for 7% of global emissions annually due in part to a reliance on coal to heat smelting furnaces...