Economy

Long viewed as a bastion of stability in the region of Central Africa, Gabon has been able to leverage its comparative steadfastness into diplomatic clout throughout sub-Saharan Africa. After gaining independence in 1960 the country surpassed an initial decade of occasional political tension to secure a generally peaceful state. This has allowed...

Located in central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, Gabon is a mid-sized country with a relatively small population of 1.6m people. Following a colonial period (1886-1960), when it was ruled by France, the country’s considerable hydrocarbons and mineral wealth has allowed it to enjoy economic development and stability, particularly compared to many...

The past 40 years of oil production have turned this small but strategically positioned Central African state into an upper middle-income economy. Although figures can vary noticeably, with a GDP per capita in 2012 estimated at $9000 by the Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale and $12,000 by the IMF, the nation is roughly on a par with Turkey and...

In light of the dramatic increase in government spending since 2009, authorities in Gabon have recently moved to create the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (Agence de Régulation des Marchés Publics, ARMP), which will be tasked with overseeing and streamlining procurement. In a region where bidding for public contracts can be a protracted affair...