Gabon
Gabon
1. Country / Territory
Brief
Gabon is a resource-rich
country and the fifth largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon is
faced with declining oil
production, which has been
the backbone of its economy since it gained independence. The country is also
well endowed with
arable land, forest, and
mineral resources. It has extraordinary biodiversity, as well as rich deposits
of magnesium and iron ore.
It is Sub-Saharan Africa’s
second-largest exporter of manganese. Gabon has been politically stable since
its independence and
has played a strategic
role in promoting peace and stability in the region. Gabon is a member of the
main regional bodies for
economic co-operation such
as ECCAS and CEMAC, but poor diversification and the lack of communication
infrastructure in
the region has served to
hamper efforts at regional integration. Gabon aspires to become an emerging
country by 2035.
2. People and Economy
2.1 People
Total
population
(growth
rates per annum) 1,482,843 in 2012 with growth rates of 2.4% p.a during 2008-2012
Population
density
(people
per sq. km of
land
area)
6 in 2012
Female
population 49.9% in 2012
Population
below 15
years
of age 38.5% in 2008 ; 38.9% in 2012
Urban
population 84.9% in 2012
Population
living below
$1.25 a
day at purchasing
power
parity (PPP)
N.A
Ranking
in the Human
Development
Index (HDI) 106 out of 186 in 2012
Evolution of the Human Development Index (HDI)
Source: United Nations
Development Programme Human Development Indicators
Note: The Human
Development Index measures the overall development of a nation and ranges from
0 (low level of
development) to 1 (highest
level of development). The United Nations Development Programme (http://hdr.undp.org)
provides a detailed
explanation. ITC Regional group refers to ITC definition
Health Life
expectancy at birth (years) (63); Mortality rate, under-5 (per thousand live
births) (62) in
2012
Education
Education index - expected and mean years of schooling (rank) (
106 out of 191) in 2012
Income
level GNI per capita in PPP terms (constant 2005 international $) ( )
in 2012
Inequality
Inequality-adjusted HDI (rank) (65 out of 191)in 2012
Poverty
Multidimensional Poverty Index (rank) (n.a) in 2012
Gender Gender
inequality index (rank) (44 out of 191) in 2012
Sustainability
Adjusted net savings (% of GNI) (n.a) in 2012
2.2 Economy
Added
value per sector
(current
US$ and % of GDP)
Sector
added value
2004 2008
2012
US $ %GDP
US $ %GDP US $ %GDP
Agriculture 405 5.6 N.A.
N.A. N.A. N.A.
Industry 3,969 55.3 N.A.
N.A. N.A. N.A.
Manufacturing 327 4.6
N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
Services 2,804 39.1 N.A.
N.A. N.A. N.A.
Source: World Bank World
Development Indicators (WDI)
Note: Added value is US$
terms are expressed in million, GDP US$, and
"6,976 to be read
6'976"
Evolution
of GDP (constant
2005 US$)
Source: World Bank World
Development Indicators (WDI)
Note: ITC calculations
based on the World Bank WDI
Evolution of GDP per capita (constant 2005 US$)
Source: World Bank World
Development Indicators (WDI)
Note: ITC calculations
based on the World Bank WDI
Aid Dependency (Official Development Assistance/Gross National Income)
Source: World Bank World
Development Indicators (WDI)
Note: ITC calculations
based on the World Bank WDI. Regional group
refers to ITC definition
Remittances
as a Share of GDP
2004 2008
2012
Remittance ($ millions)
7 N.A N.A
Remittance (% GDP) 9.5
N.A N.A
Source: World Bank World
Development Indicators (WDI)
Note: ITC calculations
based on World Bank WDI, IMF BOP statistics,
and "6,976 to be read
6'976"
3. Trade Performance
3.1 General Trade
Performance
3.1.1 Evolution of Trade
Ratio to GDP - Goods
3.1.2 Evolution of Trade
Ratio to GDP - Services
3.1.3 Evolution of Total
Trade
3.1.4 Trade Map
3.1.6 Export and Import
by Leading Destination - Import
3.1.7 Evolution of
Exports and Imports by Destination - Export
3.1.8 Evolution of
Exports and Imports by Destination - Import
3.1.9 Total Export
Growth
Source: ITC,
calculations based on ITC’s Trade Competitiveness Map data.
Note:Graph shows
decomposition of the country’s export growth in value terms by diversification
pattern over the indicated
period.
3.1.10 Marginal Export
Growth
Source: ITC,
calculations based on ITC’s Trade Competitiveness Map data.
Note:Graph shows
decomposition of the country’s export growth in value by structural driving
effects over the indicated period.
Values are in US$
thousands.
3.1.11 Composition of
Trade in Services - Export
3.1.12 Composition of
Trade in Services - Import
3.1.13 Evolution of FDI
3.2 Sector Trade
Performance
3.2.1 Sectoral
Diversification in Products - Export
3.2.2 Sectoral
Diversification in Products - Import
3.2.3 Sectoral
Diversification in Destinations - Export
3.2.4 Sectoral
Diversification in Destinations - Import
3.2.5 Sectors by World
Demand - Export
3.2.6 Sectors by World
Demand - Import
3.2.7 Trade Performance
Index
4. Trade Strategy and
Policy
4.1 Trade and
Development Strategies
Year
Strategy name Sector
2011
ECCAS Coffee Export
Strategy
The rationale of the
strategy arises from the decrease in coffee production... Coffee
2011
ECCAS Cotton and Textile
Export Strategy
The strategy envisages the
creation of a competitive and integrated valuechain,
able...
Cotton, Garment Industry,
Textile
Industry
2011
UNDAF Gabon 2012-2016
The UNDAF is alligned with
the MDGs and other national documents such...
2008
L’avenir en confiance
L'Avenir en Confiance
constitutes a national vision for Gabon and focuses
on...
4.2 Domestic and Foreign
Market Access
4.3 Trade Facilitation
Description
According to the World
Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) which measures countries’ trade
logistics
efficiency, Gabon was
ranked 131st out of 155 countries. The figures of customs, infrastructure,
international
shipments, logistics
competence and tracking and tracing are behind the regional average of
Sub-Saharan
African countries, while
its performance in timeliness is better than those countries (World Bank 2012).
While
inspection, whether
pre-shipment or at destination, is mandatory for all member states of CEMAC,
Gabon is
exceptional that it does
not implement neither procedure (WTO 2013). The OECD also measures the
performance of trade
facilitation in Gabon and highlighted that Gabon’s best performance is in the
area of
fees and charges, whereas
Gabon’s performance for the involvement of the trade community, advance
rulings, automation and
streamlining of procedures is below the averages of Sub-Saharan African and
upper
middle income countries
(OECD 2013). According the World Bank Doing Business Report (2013), Gabon is
ranked 135th among 189
economies. While in the region, low levels of infrastructure are constraints to
opening up and integration
with other countries, the ranking of Gabon is higher than most the comparable
economies in Africa and
regional average of Sub-Saharan African on the ease of trading across borders,
as it
requires fewer document,
less time and less cost to trade (both export and import). Yet its performance
is still
below the average of OECD
high income countries (World Bank 2013). Currently, Gabon is undertaking a
series of actions to
enhance its trade facilitation capacity under the auspices of a trade
facilitation
implementation plan
initiated by UNCTAD in 2012 (WTO 2013).
Source: African
Development Bank , 2011, Regional Integration Strategy Paper 2011-2015 (Central
Africa)
OECD, 2013, Trade
Facilitation Indicators
World Bank, 2013, Doing
Business 2014 (Gabon)
WTO, 2013, Trade Policy
Review (CEMAC - Common Report)
WTO, 2013, Trade Policy
Review (CEMAC - Gabon)
Logistics Performance Index
(LPI): Country Comparison
Source: World
Bank, 2012, Logistics Performance Index (LPI)
Logistics Performance Index – Evolution
Source: World
Bank, 2012, Logistics Performance Index (LPI)
4.4 Business and
Regulatory Environment
Description
The World Bank Doing
Business Report (2013) ranked Gabon 163rd out of 189 economies, which is
below the regional average
of Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank 2013). Among the 10 categories
analysed by this study,
Gabonese performance in half of the indicators, including registering property,
starting a business,
protecting investors, resolving insolvency and paying tax, is particularly
unfavourable. Despite the
government’s promise to privatize, the government still holds an
overwhelming amount of
share in different enterprises and even monopolies. In addition, the
competitive neutrality is
not fully guaranteed by the regulatory authority. Moreover, the Gabonese
government has also been
criticized for bureaucracy, proliferation of para-fiscal tax, transaction costs
induced by corruption, the
weak legal framework, inadequate transparency, the complex land tenure
system, as well as
inadequate skilled labour and weak capacity to promote Public-Private
Partnership
(AfDB 2011; IMF 2013; U.S.
Department of State 2013).
Source: African
Development Bank, 2011, Country Strategy Paper 2011-2015 (Gabon)
IMF, 2013, IMF Country
Report (Gabon)
U.S. Department of
State, 2013, Investment Climate Statement (Gabon)
World Bank, 2013, Doing
Business 2014 (Gabon)
WTO, 2013, Trade Policy
Review (CEMAC - Gabon)
The
Business Environment:
Doing Business
Source: World
Bank, 2013, Doing Business (Ethiopia)
Multilateral Trade
Instruments
Abstract
The Trade Treaties Map tool is a webbased system on multilateral trade treaties and instruments designed to assist trade support institutions (TSIs) and policymakers in optimizing their country's legal frame work oninternational trade
Instrument ratified : 96
/ 266 instruments
Ratification rate : 36.1%
Weighted score : 47.7/100
Ratification Rate Rank
Weighted Score Rank
In World : 97 /
193 93 / 193
In Region : Sub-Saharan
Africa 11/ 47 10/ 47
In Development level : Developing
country 44/ 88 41/ 88
Graph
Presents a visual illustration breaking down a country’s ratification level according to various categories and compares it to the world average.
Instruments
ratified Click here for a full list and more details about these
multi-lateral trade instruments
4.5 Infrastructure
The World Economic Forum
(WEF) Global Competitiveness Report (2013) ranked the quality of overall
infrastructure of Gabon
112nd out of 148
countries. While road is the leading mode of transport in Gabon, its poor state
has been hampering Gabonese
competitiveness and
industrial development. The low quality of port infrastructure is not able to
effectively meet the needs of
external trade. The
quality of electricity supply also lags behind. Given this situation, the
government has been launching
investment in constructing
and renovating public infrastructures since 2010 (WTO 2013). It has been
focusing on strengthening
the road infrastructure on
the segments of the highway linking Gabon to Congo; rehabilitating the
transport and marketing
infrastructure in the rural
areas for enhanced access to productive areas; and upgrading the energy and
communications
infrastructure (AfDB
2011). With regards to telecommunication service, the Gabonese government has
exclusive authority to
establish and operate
public telecommunications networks. The market of basic fixed
telecommunications services is dominated
by the monopoly of Gabon
Télécom, and largely underdeveloped. On the other hand, the market of mobile
telephone is more
liberalized and
competitive. Owing to the competition between service providers, Gabon became
one of the earliest African
countries to exceed 100
per cent mobile market penetration in 2008 (MBendi 2011; WTO 2013).
Source: WEF,
2013, Global Competitiveness Report
African Development
Bank, 2011, Country Strategy Paper 2011-2015 (Gabon)
African Development
Bank, 2013, Quarterly Thematic Review Central Africa - Promoting Private
Investment in Countries of the Economic Community
of Central African
States – ECCAS
MBendi, 2013, Computers
and Communications in Gabon- Introduction
WTO, 2013, Trade Policy
Review (CEMAC - Gabon)
Indicator
Value Rank/148
Quality of overall
infrastructure How would you assess general infrastructure (e.g.,
transport,
telephony, and energy) in your country? [1 = extremely underdeveloped—
among
the worst in the world; 7 = extensive and efficient—among the best in the
world]
| 2012–13 weighted average.
2.68 124
Quality of roads How
would you assess roads in your country? (1 = extremely
underdeveloped;
7 = extensive and efficient by international standards) | 2010, 2011. 2.33
131
Quality of railroad
infrastructure How would you assess the railroad system in your
country?
(1 = extremely underdeveloped; 7 = extensive and efficient by international
standards)
| 2010, 2011.
2.39 72
Quality of port infrastructure
How would you assess port facilities in your country? (1 =
extremely
underdeveloped; 7 = well-developed and efficient by international
standards).
For landlocked countries, this measures the ease of access to port
facilities
and inland waterways | 2010, 2011.
2.69 124
Quality of air transport
infrastructure How would you assess passenger air transport
infrastructure
in your country? (1 = extremely underdeveloped; 7 = extensive and
efficient
by international standards) | 2010, 2011.
3.57 102
Individuals using
Internet (%) Internet users are people with access to the worldwide
network.
179.47 6
Mobile telephone
subscriptions/100 pop According to the World Bank, mobile cellular
telephone
subscriptions are subscriptions to a public mobile telephone service using
cellular
technology, which provides access to switched telephone technology.
Postpaid
and prepaid subscriptions are included. This can also include analogue and
digital
cellular systems but should not include non-cellular systems. Subscribers to
fixed
wireless, public mobile data services, or radio paging services are not
included.
8.62 117
Fixed broadband Internet
subscriptions/100 pop: The International Telecommunication
Union
considers broadband to be any dedicated connection to the Internet of 256
kilobits
per second or faster, in both directions. Broadband subscribers refers to the
sum of
DSL, cable modem and other broadband (for example, fiber optic, fixed
wireless,
apartment LANs, satellite connections) subscribers.
0.31 111
Source: World
Economic Forum, Global Enabling Trade Report 2014
5. ITC and the
Country/Territory
5.1 ITC Projects
5.1.1
Current projects
No Current Projects
Found!
5.1.2
Recent projects
Banker Forum (fr)
Expansion du commerce
intra et inter-regional entre les Etats Members de la CEMAC, de l'UEMOA et les
Trois Francophones
Mekong (fr)
PACT2 - ECCAS - Coffee:
Product and Market Development
ECCAS Regional trade
information networks
PACT 2 - ECCAS Appui
juridique pour les entreprises de l'Afrique occidentale et centrale
PACT 2 - ECCAS Regional
Private Sector Apex Bodies for Public-Private Dialogue
PACT 2 - ECCAS Networks
of National and Regional TSIs
PACT 2 - ECCAS Sector
Strategy
PACT 2 - ECCAS Market
Analysis and Sector Prioritization
PACT 2 -ECCAS Improved
Technical Capacities and RBM Operations
Expansion du commerce
intra et inter-regional pour les pays francophones du Mekong
5.2 Events
5.2.1
Upcoming events
No data
5.2.2
Recent events
No data
5.3 ITC Contacts
Ekutu
BONZEMBA
Trade
Promotion Officer
+41 22 730 0330
bonzemba@intracen.org
Ruben
PHOOLCHUND
Chief,
Office for Africa
+41 22 730 0508
phoolchund@intracen.org
Read more
Read more
6. Trade Information
Sources and
Contacts
6.1 Trade Information
Sources
This section provides a
list of country specific print and online publications on trade-related topics,
including both ITC and
external sources.
6.1.1
ITC publications
Expansion
du commerce intra- et inter-régional entre les pays membres de la CEMAC et de
l' UEMOA: Rapport de
l'atelier
de lancement
Réseau
d'information commerciale et de gestion d'opportunités d'affaires - Mission
d'évaluation et de présentation
du
projet dans les différents points focaux de la CEMAC
Read more
Gabon:
Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur le bois et ses produits dérivés
Etude de l'offre et de la
demande sur le bois et ses produits dérivés au Gabon - la première partie de
l'étude analyse la structure
de l'activité gabonaise de
production...
Analyse
statistique des flux des échanges commerciaux intra- et inter- régionaux de la
CEMAC et de l'UEMOA -
Livres
scolaires, produits de l'édition et de la diffusion (résumé)
Gabon:
Evaluation de l'état des connaissances et de l'utilisation des nouvelles
technologies de l'information et de la
communication
(NTIC) liées au commerce
Read more
Rencontre
acheteurs/vendeurs sur le bois et ses produits dérivés
République
du Congo: Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur les produits alimentaires
Etude de l'offre et de la
demande sur les produits alimentaires en République du Congo - examine la
structure et la capacité de
production de la branche
d'activité concernée, ainsi...
Gabon:
Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur les livres scolaires, l'édition et la
diffusion
Etude de l'offre et de la
demande sur les livres scolaires, l' édition et la diffusion au Gabon - examine
l' offre des produits
concernés sur le marché
gabonais dans...
Read more
Gabon:
Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur les produits alimentaires (2006)
Etude de l'offre et de la
demande sur les produits alimentaires au Gabon - analyse la structure de
l'offre des produits
alimentaires à travers
l'examen des caractéristiques générales de l'offre,...
République
Centrafricaine: Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur les produits alimentaires
Etude de l'offre et de la
demande sur les produits alimentaires en République Centrafricaine - examine la
structure de la
branche d'activité
concernée notamment la capacité et les facteurs de...
Rwanda:
Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur les produits alimentaires
Etude de l'offre et de la
demande sur les produits alimentaires au Rwanda - décrit les principaux
produits du pays et examine la
structure de la branche
d'activité; donne le...
Read more
Tchad:
Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur les produits alimentaires
Etude de l'offre et de la demande
sur les produits alimentaires au Tchad - examine la structure de la branche
d'activité
concernée notamment les
capacités et les facteurs de production,...
Sénégal:
Rencontre acheteurs/vendeurs sur les livres scolaires, l'édition et la
diffusion
Expansion
du commerce intra- et inter-régional entre les pays membres de la CEMAC et de
l' UEMOA: Rapport de
l'atelier
de lancement
Read more
Gabon:
Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur les produits alimentaires (2004)
Etude de l'offre et de la
demande sur les produits alimentaires au Gabon - identifie les produits
alimentaires présentant un
potentiel d'exportation à
travers l'analyse du secteur agricole du pays...
Analyse
statistique des flux des échanges commerciaux intra- et inter-régionaux de la
CEMAC et de l'UEMOA
Analyse
statistique des flux des échanges commerciaux intra- et inter-régionaux de la
CEMAC et de l'UEMOA: Livres
scolaires,
produits de l'édition et de la diffusion
Read more
Gabon:
Etude de l'offre et de la demande sur les textiles et l'habillement
Etude de l'offre et la
demande de textiles et d'habillement au Gabon - dans la première partie
consacrée à l'offre, l'étude
examine la structure de la
branche commerciale des textiles...
Etude
de l'offre et de la demande sur le riz au Gabon
Etude de l'offre et de la
demande sur le riz au Gabon - examine la situation de l'offre à travers
l'analyse des capacités de
production, les normes de
qualité et...
6.1.2 Selected printed
information sources
2005 Accès aux marchés
des produits non-agricoles dans le cadre de l'OMC, des APEs et de AGOA : Cas de
la CEMAC
2005 Intégration
Régionale et Négociations de L'OMC sur le Commerce Des Services : Cas de
L'Afrique Centrale
2007 - Martijn, Jan
Kees; Tsangarides, Charalambos G. Trade Reform in the CEMAC : Developments and
Opportunities
2008 La filière bois en
Afrique centrale
2007 EPA Negotiations in
the Central African Region : Some Issues for Consideration
1997 Nouveau régime
fiscal et douanier: réforme fiscalo-douanière
2008 Sub-Saharan Africa
: Factors Affecting Trade Patterns of Selected Industries. - Second Annual
Report
2010 - Meyer, N.
Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements and Technical Barriers to Trade : An
African Perspective
2010 - Kaplinsky R What
Happens When the Market Shifts to China? : The Gabon Timber and Thai Cassava
Value Chains
2010 Good Neighbours :
Promoting Intra-African Markets for Timber and Timber Products
2007 - Ramirez G;
Tsangarides C G Competitiveness in the CFA Franc Zone
2008 - Oliva, Maria A
Trade Restrictiveness in the CEMAC Region : The Case of Congo
2007 LA CEMAC et les
Négociations du Cycle de Doha : Solutions envisageables pour mitiger les effets
négatifs de la
réduction des
engagements en faveur de la zone CEMAC
2003 - Barba Navaretti G
The Impact of Trade Liberalization on Enterprises in Small Backward Economies:
The Case of Chad
and Gabon
2007 Trade Policy Review
: Cameroon and Gabon
2007 Les négociations de
Doha Round et le tarif douanier : Evaluation pour la CEMAC
2006 Overview of the
Regional EPA Negotiations : Central Africa-EU Economic Partnership Agreement
2010 Pêche et
aquaculture au Gabon
2008 Rapport annuel /
Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
2005 Étude sur le potentiel
de la filière Emballage en Afrique
2008 - Gulde, Anne
Marie; Tsangarides, Charalambos G The CFA Franc Zone : Common Currency,
Uncommon Challenges
2008 Sub-Saharan Africa
: Factors Affecting Trade Patterns of Selected Industries. - Second Annual Report
2012 Environnement de
l’Investissement Privé dans les Pays de la Communauté Économique des États de
l’Afrique Centrale:
Contraintes et
Perspectives: Rapport régional
6.1.3 Selected online
information sources
The OPEC Fund for
International Development
Economic Community of
Central African States (ECCAS) = Communauté Economique des Etats d'Afrique
Centrale (CEEAC)
Organisation africaine
de la propriété intellectuelle = African Intellectual Property Organization
OHADA
Investir en Zone Franc
OHADA LEGIS
Annuaire professionnel
du Gabon
Africannuaire
Organisation
InterAfricaine du Café (OIAC) = InterAfrican Coffee Organization (IACO)
Communauté Economique et
Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale (CEMAC)
6.2 Trade Contacts
Réseau des Femmes Chefs
d'Entreprises du
Gabon B.P. 6023
Libreville
+241 06 2642 16
refeg.gabon@fcem.ws
www.fcem.org
Agence de Promotion des
Investissements
Prives BP 13.740
Libreville
+241768765
+241768764
apip@netcourier.com
http://www.investgabon.com/
Centre pour le
Développement de l'Entrepirse Exponential
Building Gaborone
+267 3 191230
+267 3 191271
roger.nguessan@cde.intwww.cde.int
Agence de Promotion des
Investissements et
des Exportations BP 3403
Libreville
241-01768098
contact@apiex.ga
http://www.gaboninvest.org/l-apiex/
Yorumlar