Gabon

The year 2012 has been a memorable one for Gabon so far, co-hosting with Equatorial Guinea football’s African Cup of Nations (Coupe d’Afrique des Nations, CAN), one the world’s most important sporting events, for the first time in its history.

A new tax code was passed in May 2009 and modified in July 2009, February 2010 and January 2011 in order to reflect the new political climate of Gabon. The new code is a modernised tax framework that will likely be complemented by tax and Customs incentives offered to foreign and local investors. Additional tax reforms have also been planned. Along...

The government of Gabon has made of the use of IT a priority within its development strategy. Indeed, the Digital Gabon plan aims at creating a digital economy, in order to diversify Gabon’s economic activities away from the traditional exploitation of natural resources.

Significant changes are under way in Gabon’s health care industry as the government works to align the system with international standards by 2025. Under its national health policy, adopted in 2010, the government aims to deliver better quality health care to its people. Construction is under way to upgrade and build new health facilities and boost...

Despite promising announcements, a number of delays have kept Gabon’s citizens from benefitting from 3G services. Consequently, government mobile services do not exist yet and private mobile services remain very limited, though Airtel has begun initial attempts to introduce mobile payment solutions.

On April 16, 1913, Dr Albert Schweitzer and his wife Hélène Breslau, a nurse, arrived in Lambaréné to provide modern medical care to local Africans – and not just native Africans, but also missionaries and anyone else in need, regardless of race, nationality, religion or socioeconomic status. One aspect of Schweitzer’s work that is greatly...