馃嚞馃嚘GabonCentral Africa
British delegation explores investment opportunities in Gabon's energy, infrastructure, and poultry sectors
via Gabon Review2 min read
A delegation of 16 British companies, led by UK High Commissioner to Gabon Simon Day, visited Libreville on April 16, 2026, to explore investment opportunities in Gabon. The delegation met with Vice-President of the Government Hermann Immongault, expressing interest in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, digital technology, and poultry production. Immongault highlighted strategic priorities, including the Mitougou dam project in Nyanga province, aimed at improving access to water and electricity. The British companies visited major economic sites like the Nkok Special Investment Zone and Owendo port, holding working sessions with Gabonese authorities on road infrastructure, mineral processing, gas, and digital development projects. Atam Sandhu, head of the Commonwealth delegation, noted this was his third mission, indicating progress and the finalization of agreements aligned with Gabon's vision. The Gabonese government also emphasized its goal of reducing food import dependency, inviting British investors to participate in local poultry production, with an aim to ban imported broiler chicken by 2027. The Gabonese side called for continued dialogue with partners to support the country's development, as international investors show increasing interest in Gabon's economic diversification efforts.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Gabon Review.
Samb'a Assurances, a young company selected by UGRIF for Central African Securities Exchange BVMAC listing support, is led by Dr. Andrew Gwodog. Dr. Gwodog previously headed Soci茅t茅 commerciale gabonaise de r茅assurance SCG-R茅 from 2012 to November 2023, making it Central Africa's leading reinsurer. Under his leadership, SCG-R茅 increased its capital by 5 billion FCFA in late 2022 for its own BVMAC introduction. Founded in September 2024, Samb'a Assurances focuses on digital micro-insurance for underserved populations, including informal sector workers, farmers, and small traders. The company has a pan-African shareholding with partners from Burkina Faso, C么te d'Ivoire, and Gabon. In just fifteen months, Samb'a Assurances saw its turnover grow from 188 million FCFA in 2024 to 443 million FCFA in 2025, a 136% increase, with a net profit of 33 million FCFA. It also reports an average claims settlement time of less than ten days for over 300 settled claims. This growth continued with the May 2026 launch of Samb'a Assurances Cameroun, capitalized at over 615 million FCFA with 59 shareholders. UGRIF's selection of Samb'a Assurances for its IPO project is based on the founder's financial market experience, established regional governance, and sustained growth.
Must ReadGabon's public debt reached 8,780 billion FCFA by the end of December 2025, an increase of 1,647 billion FCFA in one year. For the first time, the state owes more to banks within the country and the sub-region than to major foreign creditors. External debt slightly decreased to 4,127.6 billion FCFA, while domestic debt surged by nearly 57% in one year, reaching 4,652.7 billion FCFA. The Directorate General of Debt attributes this increase to two main factors. Firstly, a Task Force on debt officially recognized and validated previously uncounted state debts to companies and suppliers, known as "moratoriums," totaling 758.7 billion FCFA. Secondly, the state borrowed significantly from the regional financial market, raising 2,161.7 billion FCFA in 2025, with over half of this amount coming from banks outside Gabon in neighboring countries. Despite record repayments of 2,565.4 billion FCFA in 2025, including special operations like debt repurchases and Operation MOUELE, payment arrears have accumulated. Operation MOUELE, completed in April 2025, restructured domestic debt repayments, extending the average duration from 2.3 years to 6 years to ease the financial burden. However, payment arrears reached 459.5 billion FCFA, an increase of 193 billion FCFA from the end of 2024. While the state prioritizes repaying major international lenders to maintain confidence, partner countries are owed 155 billion FCFA, foreign suppliers 121.4 billion FCFA, and validated moratorium debts have 1
Must ReadGabon's decision to suspend social media access in February, in response to content deemed dangerous or destabilizing, resulted in a nationwide internet slowdown. This measure, initially aimed at curbing abuses by a few, has penalized all users, including students, researchers, journalists, and entrepreneurs, who face disruptions to videoconferences, delayed transactions, and lost clients. Despite the restrictions, public institutions and administrations continue to use social media for communication, creating a paradox. The economic cost of a degraded internet is significant, leading to decreased productivity for businesses, delayed orders, and lost opportunities. Modern economies rely on efficient communication tools, and a slow internet hinders growth and diversification efforts. The article argues that a country's attractiveness depends on its infrastructure quality, including digital, and reducing internet access sends a concerning signal to investors, especially in a country already facing high electricity costs. It suggests that a more balanced approach, focusing on proportionate and targeted responses, would be more suitable than a measure with indistinct effects, emphasizing that while security and stability are legitimate concerns, judicial mechanisms and technical reinforcement could address infractions without penalizing the entire population. Ultimately, a slow internet could impede Gabon's ambitions to attract investors, stimulate innovation, and develop its dig