The new authorities of Gabon have stated their intention to diversify their political and commercial relations with foreign countries. This stance opens up new prospects for commercial collaboration for new international players in a country with undeniable development opportunities.
With its 2.3 million inhabitants, Gabon is home to the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and, according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was confirmed as the leading nation in continental Africa for per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023. The driving sectors of Gabon’s economy are petroleum, mining, and timber. Among these, hydrocarbon production is the main economic driver and attracts the majority of foreign capital. Some multinational companies have long operated in the country with significant investments in exploration and production, including the French companies TotalEnergies and Perenco.
The mining sector is experiencing significant growth, with important manganese, iron, and uranium deposits present in Gabon. In this field, Eramet – a French company that, through its subsidiary Comilog, exploits the rich manganese deposit of Moanda – and China National Machinery & Equipment (CMEC), involved in the development of mining and infrastructure projects, are active. The timber industry, thanks to the forests that cover over 80% of the territory, is another flourishing sector of the Gabonese economy.
In addition to traditional sectors, there are other rapidly expanding productive fields in Gabon that attract foreign interest and could be the focus of future investments. Among these are the infrastructure and construction sector, which the new Gabonese authorities consider strategic; the credit and services sector; the technology and telecommunications sector; the tourism sector, given the country’s biodiversity and the existence of protected areas covering about 15% of the national territory; and, last but not least, the agricultural and renewable energy sectors.
