Industry

Although Gabon possesses important mineral resources in its soil, the share of the mining sector in the GDP only amounted to 4.6% in 2011, compared to 4.5% in 2010. The government is anxious to increase this share, promoting the local processing of existing productions and attracting new mining firms to the country. It has also indicated a desire to...

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...

One of the most important industrial segments, Egypt’s textiles sector is a major employer and source of export revenue. Proving resilient to competition, economic downturns and social unrest in recent years, it thrives on a number of competitive advantages, like favourable trade relations and active government support.

The fast growth in Egypt’s retail sector took a pause in 2011 and early 2012, as political uncertainty following regime change led many retailers to scale back expansion plans. However, the expectation is that once political stability returns, the increased purchasing power of Egypt’s rapidly-growing population is likely to drive expansion once more...

As internet penetration rises and Egyptian consumers seek a growing range of brands, online retailing is expanding. While structural constraints on the segment exist, these are expected to ease in the coming years, and more retailers are tapping into the market.

The market for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) is in some ways a microcosm of Egypt as a country: established but also in flux. Egypt has one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing populations, and this rate of expansion will create new social demands as well as naturally increase the country’s consumer base. The market preserved a double-...