DISCOVER GABON

Reasons to invest in Gabon

Gabon enjoys an excellent business climate. Under the leadership of the President of the Republic, Gabon has made it much easier to start a business, to welcome foreign investment and to facilitate public-private partnerships.

SIX REASONS TO INVEST IN GABON

Gabon is an upper-middle income country. The seventh largest oil producer in Africa, Gabon has long relied on oil and manganese to fuel its economic growth. In recent years, Gabon has sought to diversify its economy through the development of the tourism, agricultural, energy and pharmaceutical sectors, among others. Aware of the socio- economic benefits offered by information and communication technologies, Gabon has invested heavily since 2012 in the construction of a high-speed fiber optic network. The cost of internet access has fallen 10x since 2010, and the number of subscribers has increased by 7x over the same period.

Gabon is transitioning to become an economy founded on the principals of sustainable development, transforming more and more natural resources into value-added finished and semi-finished products and promoting a circular economy. The newly developed timber processing industry, for example, is allowing Gabon to generate more jobs and resources for the economy from less wood, guaranteeing sustainability and even raising carbon stocks in selectively harvested forest concessions.

The country has been awarded several times by the international community for its role in preserving ecosystems and biodiversity and Gabon bases its economic development on green growth in full compliance with the Paris Agreements and the SDGs. Investing in Gabon means developing an environmentally and socially responsible investment and participating in the fight against global warming in a sustainable manner.

Gabon maintains a favourable legal and tax framework for foreign investments and is working to further promote investments by continuing to ease administrative procedures. The country recently established a new public-private partnership framework. The country has also created several economic and special economic zones to promote new growth hubs across the country and to provide further incentives and benefits to attract investors. These include the Special Economic Zone of Nkok, with 1,100 hectares mostly dedicated to the timber industry close to the capital Libreville, and the special tax concession zone of the island of Mandji beside Gabon’s economic capital, Port-Gentil, which covers 1,500 hectares. These zones provide additional tax benefits and investment incentives to foreign investors

Gabon has enjoyed political stability since independence avoiding both civil and international conflict for the past 60 years. Its demonstration of peaceful home governance and avoidance of international conflict since 1960 has also underpinned a leading role in conflict mediation across the African Continent. Gabon was a permanent member of the UN Peace Keeping force in Central African Republic for almost 40 years. In the past decade Gabon has developed strong policies and institutions that fight against discrimination, violence and injustices within society. The political system is a multi-party democracy in which a lower house (Assemblée Nationale) and an upper house (Senate) are elected. There is a clear separation between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

Gabon’s is an ODI upper middle-income country. The main exports are oil and petroleum products, manganese, processed timber (export of unprocessed timber was banned in 2010) and agricultural products (mainly rubber and palm oil). The country is covered by tropical rain forests with remaining land covered by savanna grasslands, swamps, marshes and mangroves, as well as agriculture. Gabon is a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and is committed to promoting transparency and eliminating corruption in extractive industries. It also provides access to the region. The sub-regional market represents 250 million potential consumers that can be accessed from Gabon thanks to customs and economic cooperation agreements with other Central African countries such as CEMAC and ECCAS.

Gabon’s strategic geographical positioning and favourable climate condition have played a key role in the growth of its economy. The region contains reserves of both globally scarce resources like oil and gas to globally cherished resources like forests. In addition, agriculture has been one of the core sectors of Gabon’s economy for the past few years. Opportunities for agro-processing have further expanded the potential of the sector to grow and develop. In addition domestic demand for consumer goods, FMCG, logistics, transportation and communication services are showing a drastic increase as new businesses and corporation aim to serve the market through innovative strategies and development models. Primary investment opportunities include in infrastructure, agriculture, fishing, tourism, energy, mining, real estate, construction, timber.

SIX REASONS TO INVEST IN GABON

1. Growing and Diversifying Economy

Gabon is an upper-middle income country. The seventh largest oil producer in Africa, Gabon has long relied on oil and manganese to fuel its economic growth. In recent years, Gabon has sought to diversify its economy through the development of the tourism, agricultural, energy and pharmaceutical sectors, among others. Aware of the socio- economic benefits offered by information and communication technologies, Gabon has invested heavily since 2012 in the construction of a high-speed fiber optic network. The cost of internet access has fallen 10x since 2010, and the number of subscribers has increased by 7x over the same period.

2. Eco-friendly and Sustainable

Gabon is transitioning to become an economy founded on the principals of sustainable development, transforming more and more natural resources into value-added finished and semi-finished products and promoting a circular economy. The newly developed timber processing industry, for example, is allowing Gabon to generate more jobs and resources for the economy from less wood, guaranteeing sustainability and even raising carbon stocks in selectively harvested forest concessions.

The country has been awarded several times by the international community for its role in preserving ecosystems and biodiversity and Gabon bases its economic development on green growth in full compliance with the Paris Agreements and the SDGs. Investing in Gabon means developing an environmentally and socially responsible investment and participating in the fight against global warming in a sustainable manner.

3. Investor Friendly

Gabon maintains a favourable legal and tax framework for foreign investments and is working to further promote investments by continuing to ease administrative procedures. The country recently established a new public-private partnership framework. The country has also created several economic and special economic zones to promote new growth hubs across the country and to provide further incentives and benefits to attract investors. These include the Special Economic Zone of Nkok, with 1,100 hectares mostly dedicated to the timber industry close to the capital Libreville, and the special tax concession zone of the island of Mandji beside Gabon’s economic capital, Port-Gentil, which covers 1,500 hectares. These zones provide additional tax benefits and investment incentives to foreign investors

4. Stable Political Environment

Gabon has enjoyed political stability since independence avoiding both civil and international conflict for the past 60 years. Its demonstration of peaceful home governance and avoidance of international conflict since 1960 has also underpinned a leading role in conflict mediation across the African Continent. Gabon was a permanent member of the UN Peace Keeping force in Central African Republic for almost 40 years. In the past decade Gabon has developed strong policies and institutions that fight against discrimination, violence and injustices within society. The political system is a multi-party democracy in which a lower house (Assemblée Nationale) and an upper house (Senate) are elected. There is a clear separation between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

5. Important Regional Economy

Gabon’s is an ODI upper middle-income country. The main exports are oil and petroleum products, manganese, processed timber (export of unprocessed timber was banned in 2010) and agricultural products (mainly rubber and palm oil). The country is covered by tropical rain forests with remaining land covered by savanna grasslands, swamps, marshes and mangroves, as well as agriculture. Gabon is a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and is committed to promoting transparency and eliminating corruption in extractive industries. It also provides access to the region. The sub-regional market represents 250 million potential consumers that can be accessed from Gabon thanks to customs and economic cooperation agreements with other Central African countries such as CEMAC and ECCAS.

6. Range of Investment Opportunities

Gabon’s strategic geographical positioning and favourable climate condition have played a key role in the growth of its economy. The region contains reserves of both globally scarce resources like oil and gas to globally cherished resources like forests. In addition, agriculture has been one of the core sectors of Gabon’s economy for the past few years. Opportunities for agro-processing have further expanded the potential of the sector to grow and develop. In addition domestic demand for consumer goods, FMCG, logistics, transportation and communication services are showing a drastic increase as new businesses and corporation aim to serve the market through innovative strategies and development models. Primary investment opportunities include in infrastructure, agriculture, fishing, tourism, energy, mining, real estate, construction, timber.

Gabon, a land of opportunity

Available Investment Opportunities

Gabon has an excellent investment environment. The political, economic and security stability of the country as well as the political will to facilitate and incentivise foreign investment and business creation make Gabon a privileged destination for foreign investors. The possibility to access markets across central Africa is one of the main reasons for Gabon's attractiveness to foreign investors.

With a view to building a strong and competitive Gabon by 2025, Gabon has committed itself to the Transformation Acceleration Plan (PAT) to relaunch the national economy. The PAT was born of the desire to accelerate the diversification and structural transformation of the economy by managing the gradual decline of oil and supporting the growth of new enterprises to create a more diversified and sustainable economy in sectors such as agriculture, wood, fishing and tourism, among other areas.

Gabon’s economic success stories

Gabon’s mineral potential

MANGANESE

  • 250 million tonnes (6th world reserve)
  • 2016: 20% of minerals processed
  • Target 2025: 35% transformation rate
  • Project for the creation of the Moanda Special Economic Zone

IRON ORE

  • 1 billion tonnes (untapped Belinga deposit) 
  • Target 2025: 35% converted to pellets
  • Steel production

GOLD

  • Target 2025: production of 50 tonnes 
  • Accumulation of assets as a reserve for the future
  • Protection against inflation and exchange rate fluctuations

BUILDING MATERIALS

  • Competitiveness of the local construction industry  
  • To become the leader in processed woods by 2025

RARE METALS

  • Rare earths, nobium, tantalum, uranium  
  • Becoming one of the world’s leading producers

INDUSTRY

  • Petrochemicals, fertilisers, hydrocarbons  
  • Phosphate, sulphide, potassium, limestone
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DISCOVER GABON
Investment opportunities

95000

Elephants

Gabon LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE

41000

Leatherback sea turtles

Gabon Gorilla

18000

Gorillas

659

Bird species

Mammal specie

204

Mammal species