Gabon Transport

The dilapidated state of some of the country’s infrastructure, not to mention limited access to it, has in recent years made it difficult for maritime transport operators in Gabon to keep up with the growing pace of demand driven by extractive industries, construction and forestry (see Mining chapter). To make sure maritime transport continues to...

Ensuring easy access to outlying and rural areas, particularly given Gabon’s economic dependence on commodity production in those very same areas, is crucial. As a result, the government has made it a priority to develop a transport corridor connecting Gabon’s major cities and its mineral and agricultural zones so as to facilitate the flow of goods...

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...

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...

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.

The improvement of Gabon’s transport network is a necessary precursor to growth in the extractive industries, forestry, agriculture and other high-potential sectors, and the government has recognised this. Planned infrastructure upgrades, particularly for roads and ports, should help unlock the country’s economic potential in areas outside of...