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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, which saw a 20% increase in traffic between 2010 and 2011; a €30.5m renovation of Port-Gentil’s aiport; and the expansion and paving of the road network, particularly outside of towns and urban centres. This chapter contains interviews with Dominique Oyinamono, Director-General, National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC); and Grégory Quérel, Chairman of the Management Board, Necotrans.

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 business tourists, who account for around 60% of visitors to the country. While the sector’s contribution to GDP was just 2.8% in 2011, it is expected to increase steadily with continued attention from the government, which is hoping to double the number of tourist arrivals by 2020. This chapter contains an interview with Alan Bernstein, Executive Chairman, Sustainable Forestry Management Africa.

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 programme, which aims to promote the local processing of raw materials into high-value-added exports. New special economic zones and public-private partnerships, as well as projects to increase palm oil, rubber and fertiliser production, are expected to contribute to the growth of the sector. The government is also eager to increase mining’s contribution to GDP. With production of manganese having reached record levels in 2011, accounting for 14% of global exports, and a number of investors expressing interest in the sector, mining revenues are expected to increase. This chapter contains interviews with Régis Immongault Tatagani, Minister of Industry and Mining; and Fabrice Nze-Bekale, CEO, Société Equatoriale des Mines.

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, having increased by 34.5% between 2005 and 2010. Recent reforms should help stem problems with arrears that have traditionally plagued the sector. Insurers in the country are now focusing on strengthening their solvency, increasing penetration and bringing the country in line with regional best practices. This chapter features an interview with Jean-Claude Ngbwa, Secretary-General, Inter-African Conference on Insurance Markets (CIMA).

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 began five years ago and continued growth and aggressive outreach strategies by brokers and regulating authorities are likely to promote the expansion of the regional capital markets. This chapter contains an interview with Eric Paget-Blanc, Senior Director, Fitch France.

In spite of the country’s relatively small population, there are 14 financial institutions, nine of which are banks. Two of these are majority-controlled by the state and the other seven are privately owned. The largest three banks – BGFIBank, BICIG and UGB – are responsible for more than 80% of loans and deposits made in the country. While penetration remains relatively low, Gabon’s expected continued economic development means it will likely increase in the coming years. Given high oil prices, strong economic expansion and planned infrastructure developments under the Emerging Gabon strategy, which are expected to create opportunities for project finance, the future for the banking sector is promising. This chapter contains interviews with Denis Meporewa, National Director, BEAC; and Michaël Adande, President, BDEAC.