On the basis of the economic indicators for the first quarter 2008, business excluding oil increased by 5% and oil production increased 1.3%, leading to favourable growth of the Gross Domestic Product - 416% in terms of volume - according to Mr Paul Bongué Boma, General Director of the Economy at the Finance Ministry.

In order to pursue Gabon’s economic diversification and follow on from the adoption of the growth strategy and poverty reduction document, at the proposal of Richard Auguste Onouviet, Minister for Planning, Scheduling and Development, the government adopted a draft decree regarding the creation of a National Economic Diversification Commission with the remit to develop the country’s priority sectors.

This Commission is in charge of implementing the main recommendations from the Growth Strategy and Poverty Reduction Document (DSCRP) through the application of a new integration-based approach, consisting in selecting a limited number of economic branches to be promoted, identifying all the obstacles to development of the said branches, from production to commercialisation, and implementing a programme of integrated multi-branch actions to remove the identified obstacles.

In this respect, the Commission comprises thirteen Branch Commissions corresponding to sectors identified as buoyant, that is to say:

• the timber industry,
• the pharmaceuticals industry,
• agriculture and livestock,
• fishing and fish farming,
• environmental products,
• tourism,
• oil and gas,
• mining,
• banking and insurance,
• new information and communication technologies,
• air and sea transport services,
• health services,
• centres of educational excellence.

The Gabonese National Economic Diversification Commission, under the authority of the Prime Minister, comprises four operational bodies which are:

- the Steering Committee: the guidance entity chaired by the Prime Minister seconded by the Planning and Finance ministers, and which includes all the presidents of the Branch Commissions,

- the State and Development Partners Committee: the entity for exchanges with the development Partners and co-chaired by the Planning and Finance Ministers, whose members are the representatives of the development partners.

- the Technical Commissions number seventeen, which constitute the centre pins in terms of preparation and monitoring of the implementation of the strategy, chaired by the ministers in charge of the branches concerned, seconded by representatives of the private sector,

- the Permanent Technical Secretariat which ensures the coordination between the different Technical Commissions, as well as the secretariats of these Technical Commissions and the State-development partners and Steering committees.

Legabon.org, 8th August 2008

The aim is to facilitate the country’s economic diversification and attract more investors keen to work in the country by creating a dependable framework, to the extent that “Gabon is actively working to improve the trade environment, in particular within the World Trade Organisation (WHO) and as part of the Cotonou Agreements with the European Union (EU)”, the minister for Trade emphasised.

Drawn up with the expertise of the international sponsors (the European Union (EU), Facilité Climat des affaires (BIZCLIM)), the Gabonese Code of Commerce was presented on Tuesday 5th August, in Libreville. Numerous members of the government, Gabonese industry employers and development partners attended this seminar, chaired by the head of the government, Jean Eyéghé Ndong.

The aim is to facilitate the country’s economic diversification and attract more investors keen to work in the country by creating a dependable framework, to the extent that “Gabon is actively working to improve the trade environment, in particular within the World Trade Organisation (WHO) and as part of the Cotonou Agreements with the European Union (EU),” the minister for Trade emphasised. The aim is also to provide the country with a modern code that complies with current standards in international trade, in conformity with the texts and laws in force in the Regional Institutions such as CEEAC, CEMAC, OHADA, CIMA, etc.

Since 11th February 2008, a commission has been working on drafting this Code (almost 50 texts identified and revised). The Code of Commerce comprises two volumes of almost 2,000 pages. The purpose is to update the legal framework of the commercial sector, an initiative by the Gabonese government as part of a policy of regulating commercial activity in the country, in line with forestry activities and mining activities which both have modern regulatory frameworks in place, and also to express, in a deed, the Gabonese government’s commitment with respect to the priorities inscribed in the Government Roadsheet 2008, presented recently by the Prime minister, Jean Eyéghé Ndong, to Parliament.

As the head of the government, Jean Eyéghé Ndong, emphasised, the aim was to “provide Gabon with a unique Code of Commerce, incorporating the Uniform Acts of OHADA, and all the national and supranational legislative and regulatory texts governing commercial and industrial activities”.

Legabon.org, 8th August 2008

Urnover for Eramet manganese has grown by 92.9% with manganese ore and sinter production at the Gabonese subsidiary, Comilog, up by 10.7% to 846,000 tonnes in the 1st quarter of 2008, compared with 2007.

Agglomeration plant in Moanda

Manganese mine

The French mining group, Eramet, which produces nickel, manganese and alloys has recorded a strong 37.9% rise in turnover in the 1st quarter of 2008, compared with the 1st quarter of 2007. In Gabon, manganese ore and sinter production at its subsidiary, COMILOG (Ogooué Mining Company) was up 10.7% to 846, 500 tonnes, in the 1st quarter of 2008, compared with the 1st quarter of 2007, thanks to a sharp rise in the price of manganese ore. The turnover of Eramet manganese rose by 92.9 %, over the same period. On 6 June, the CEO of the Eramet group, Patrick Buffet, met with President Omar Bongo Ondimba in Libreville, to report back to the president both on these excellent results and the development prospects for activities at its Gabonese subsidiary. Production at Comilog increased output to 3,334 million tonnes of manganese with a turnover of 272 billion CFA francs. 20 billion CFA francs were paid out to the company’s various shareholders. A favourable outlook Prices for manganese alloys and ore have continued to grow since the end of the 1st quarter of 2008. Demand remains very focused. Manganese ore and sinter production in Gabon continues to accelerate in a bid to achieve 3.5 million tonnes by the end of 2008 and 4 million by 2010. Thanks to developing capacities in the processing of manganese, 400 jobs are to be created in the province of Upper Ogooué. To achieve these objectives, Patrick Buffet announced the release of massive investment for the sustained development of activities on the Bakoumba plateau, in Upper Ogooué Province. "Not so long ago we were producing 2 million tonnes in Moanda; we are now fulfilling our commitment to the President of the Republic to achieve 3.5 million tonnes in 2008; we are even thinking of extending mining production to 4 million tonnes or perhaps a little more, by 2010. We have therefore committed to a series of investments; we have developed and increased mining production, and following operations in the Bagombé plateau, have begun preparations in the Koumba plateau, Moanda, aimed at developing mining production. Moreover, we wish to create a manganese processing capacity in Gabon, utilising a silico-manganese plant, producing both silico-manganese alloy and manganese metal; with two factories creating direct jobs for 400 people. These two factories would play a hugely important role in further developing production infrastructure in Gabon, and also assumes that we get sufficient electricity from the new Poubara hydroelectric dam, at competitive prices" states Patrick Buffet. Legabon.org, June 2008

The oil company, Perenco Gabon, the 3rd leading company in its sector nationally, is looking to develop its activities.

Directors of the Franco-British oil company PERENCO Gabon, ranked 3rd in its sector at national level, met the Head of State, Omar Bongo Ondimba, and Minister of State for Mines, Casimir Oye Mba to report on their development project. "We reaffirmed our wish to ensure the group’s sustainability, to develop PERENCO Gabon, through the exploration and development of gas…in fact we are now supplying Libreville and Port Gentil with gas from PERENCO Gabon…and of course to continue our oil prospection and production. Today, therefore, we are producing around 50,000 barrels/day; the group has continued to grow since its arrival in Gabon in 1992 and it is our wish to develop gas fields and relaunch the development of large reserves in the south of the country, in particular the Mbia field, which is one of the largest reserves in Gabon. We are also benefiting from the soaring price of crude oil, but prudence is needed here; oil prices, in particular those from contractors, are also increasing, so we must adopt a serious and not a casual attitude; we belong to a cyclical industry, and are continually looking to the future; we work on long 5, 10 or even 15 year cycles, so whilst we are able make full use of rising prices at the moment, we must also prepare for the future", states François Perrodo, the group’s Managing Director.

Legabon.org, june 2008