Apart from downstream commodity processing, industrial activity in Gabon is still at an early stage. The limited size of the local market and the high costs incurred by industrial activities have been historical obstacles to the industrial development of Gabon. Although the share of the industrial activity – excluding oil and mining – slipped to 7.7...
With its many rivers – including the Ogooué River, the fourth-largest in Africa by volume – Gabon has a total estimated hydroelectricity potential of 6000 MW. Over the past two decades, however, hydropower has declined as the dominant source of electricity in Gabon; no major new dams have been built in more than 30 years, while the demand for power...
In April 2012 Fitch Ratings revised Gabon’s outlook to positive from stable, affirming its long-term rating at BB- and its short-term one at B. While the positive outlook was welcome news, it should not have come as a surprise to the international investors who have been following Gabon’s sovereign note since it was issued in late 2007, even if...
The African continent is synonymous with mobile banking. Ever since MP esa, the world’s first mobile banking service, was launched in Kenya in 2007 by Safaricom, millions of people have used their mobile phone as a banking device. Similar initiatives have spread throughout the continent, bringing banking and payment services to some of the world’s...
The continued work to stimulate agricultural investment in Gabon is seen as a critical component of an effort to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on food imports. Despite a fertile climate, abundant annual rainfall and vast expanses of untapped agricultural land, Gabon imports the vast majority of its food needs each year at a cost of...
The special economic zones (SEZs) of Guangdong are often referred to as the birthplace of the Chinese economic miracle. These export-oriented havens for foreign investment attracted multinational companies to the country with substantial provision of inexpensive labour and tax holidays. They also created jobs and, through the transfer of technology...
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