Gabon

In conjunction with Deloitte, OBG explores the taxation system, examining Gabon’s investor-friendly environment. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Nicolas Balesme, Partner and General Manager, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, OBG’s tax partner.

Rising incomes and improvements in providing access to internet platforms are having a positive impact on Gabon’s overall media environment. Print remains the dominant media force and more targeted titles might help bring more dynamism to the newspaper segment. Radio remains Gabon’s most universal medium and is especially relevant for the rural areas, which have widely dispersed populations....

Under the National Health Strategy adopted in 2010, Gabon has made a push to upgrade service quality and expand hospital capacity. In recent years, the country’s health strategy has centred on heavy investment in infrastructure. The Ministry of Health aims to enforce a set of quality standards by 2020, but with 86% of the population living in urban areas, rural structures face challenges...

Increasingly aware of the need for economic diversification, Gabon is paying unprecedented attention to the development of its tourism sector. Within the Emerging Gabon strategy, the Green Gabon plan demonstrates recognition of the fact that sustainable development will be key to growth. The upgrading of hospitality options and promotion of Gabon in the ecotourism market should soon boost the...

As mobile subscriber numbers are nearing saturation, future growth will be driven by the expansion into new products and services. In anticipation, mobile operators are working to introduce value-added services and improve overall network quality. In the meantime, operators are working to expand their infrastructure networks ahead of the switch to 3G. The current absence of 3G services means that...

Construction has been at the heart of government plans for economic development, with the expansion of energy and transport infrastructure intended to help realise the goal of diversifying the economy. The government seeks to generate over $13bn in infrastructure investments by 2016. The high cost of construction materials, limited transport infrastructure and delays on payments from the public...