Gabon

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...

While Gabon has a well-established niche in the global mining market as a key manganese exporter, its ambition to significantly expand exploration is generating strong interest from junior miners. With mining accounting for 6.3% of GDP and 6% of exports in 2012, according to the African Development Bank, there is potential for growth. The implementation of a new mining code in late 2013 is set to...

Gabon aims to significantly increase its domestic food security by 2020, while also working to expand its cash crop exports. An integral part of efforts to diversify the economy away from dependence on oil, successful implementation of its agricultural strategy will have a major impact on its balance of payments and generate significant employment growth. The government has initiated a wide-...

As with many of Africa’s emerging markets, a number of challenges face Gabon’s insurance sector, including low insurance awareness, a small domestic client base and declining oil production. And yet the Gabonese market remains one of the largest in the sub-region, and it is set to expand in the coming years as the demand for personal insurance lines increases. Despite its modest size, the local...