Gabon

The telecoms industry is being redefined by a move toward mobile technology. Mobile subscriptions reached 2.37m in 2011, an increase of 112% since 2007. The mobile market is highly competitive, with four competing operators. With the penetration rate currently reaching the saturation point, operators will have to begin offering new services such as mobile broadband at lower rates to maintain a...

The government has acknowledged that transport upgrades urgently need to be made to promote growth in a number of other sectors, including tourism, agriculture and extractive industries. The National Infrastructure Master Plan, which was launched in June 2012, focuses on 21 priority projects in transport, energy and housing. Current transport projects include the expansion of the ports system,...

The tourism sector is playing a key role in the government’s diversification strategy. With the Green Gabon programme promoting conservation and forestry, the country is aiming to attract high-spending visitors with an interest in ecotourism opportunities offered by Gabon’s lush rainforests and diverse wildlife. Initiatives are also under way to upgrade hotels and conference facilities for...

Industrial activity in Gabon is still at an early stage, with the limited size of the local market and high costs of industrial activities posing major challenges to the development of the sector – indeed, industry accounted for just 7.7% of GDP in 2011. However, major strides have been made in recent years to promote investment and development in industry, including the Industrial Gabon...

There are currently eight insurance companies in Gabon, three of which specialise in life insurance. Most are subsidiaries of foreign firms, though locally owned Ogar is the country’s largest insurer. Capital investment of insurance companies has been on the rise, with a total of €142.5m having been invested in 2020, up 3.8% year-on-year. Net incomes in life insurance have also performed well,...

Headquartered in Libreville, the Central African Stock Exchange (BMVAC) is one of only two regional bourses serving the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Activity on BMVAC was relatively low in 2011, with just one public offering issued by Chad and limited secondary trading activity. However, the bourse has shown strong progress since its operations...