Gabon turns to European firms to fast-track industrial growth

The industry meetings opened on Tuesday in Libreville, with Vice President Hermann Immongault in attendance. Running until 26 June at the Chamber of Commerce, the event brings together Gabonese authorities, business operators and European partners to discuss industrialisation and local processing.

At the heart of the talks is the contribution of European companies to the productive sovereignty strategy championed by the government.

French Ambassador to Gabon, Fabrice Mauriès, welcomed the return of around thirty European firms, particularly in the energy sector, while stressing the need to boost Gabon’s attractiveness in the face of international competition.

Minister of Industry and Local Transformation, Me Lubin Ntoutoume, reaffirmed the ambition to turn Gabon into a creator of wealth, skilled jobs and expertise through the processing of its natural resources.

For Hermann Immongault, this ambition is embodied in the National Growth and Development Plan (PNCD).

“This vision now finds its operational translation in the PNCD 2026-2030, which makes industrialisation, local processing and economic diversification the main growth drivers for the years ahead: 27,000 billion CFA francs in investment, including 18,000 billion from industry,” he stated.