Capital Of Gabon

U.S. Department of State [Read More]

About Gabon - US Embassy, Libreville

Gabon is a developing nation in west central Africa. Gabon is roughly the size of the state of Colorado in the United States. More than two-thirds of the land area is uncultivated and considered to be some of the world's finest virgin rainforests. The capital is Libreville. Political System ... [Read More]

Gabon - Investment Climate - US Embassy, Libreville

Sections: Admin American School Bilateral Assistance CLO Consular DAO Economic Excecutive IPC GSO Peace Corps [Read More]

Gabon (04/05)

Gabon's oil revenues have given it a strong per capita GDP of more than $4,500, extremely high for the region. On the other hand, a skewed income distribution and poor social indicators are evident. Approximately 5% of the population receives over 90% of the income/wealth. The economy is highly dependent on extraction of abundant primary materials. After oil, logging and manganese mining are the other major sectors. Foreign and Gabonese observers have consistently lamented the lack of transformation of primary materials in the Gabonese economy. Various factors have so far stymied more diversification--small market of 1 million people, dependence on French imports, inability to capitalize on regional markets, lack of entrepreneurial zeal among the Gabonese, and the fairly regular stream of oil "rent". The small processing and service sectors are largely dominated by just a few prominent local investors. At World Bank and IMF insistence, the government embarked on a program of privatizat ... [Read More]

Country Commercial Guide - US Embassy, Libreville

(return to table of contents) Chapter VII Gabon Investment Climate Revised July 2000 This small equatorial country with a population of just over 1.1 million is located on Central Africa's Atlantic coast. Gabon became independent in 1960 and, reflecting its colonial heritage, economic, linguistic and cultural ties with France remain strong. President Omar Bongo, in office since 1967, was re-elected in December 1998 with 66 % of the vote. The government is headed by a Prime Minister and also includes a National Assembly elected every five years and a constitutional (supreme) court. President Bongo's party and coalition partners hold a large parliame ... [Read More]

Gabon Privatization Opportunities - US Embassy, Libreville

Privatized in 1998 and bought by SUCAF/GABON (Societe Sucriere Africaine du Gabon), a subsidiary of the Gibraltar-based SUCAF HOLDING, owner of the Castel beer group. CIMENT DU GABON (Gabon Cement Company) In January 1999 the Privatization Committee defined a privatization strategy for Ciment du Gabon and submitted it to the IPC. An international call for tenders to transfer 51-75 percent of the capital to a potential partner was launched in November 1999. Seven candidates bid (two from France and one each from Portugal, Spain, Mexico, South Africa and Norway). The Norwegian firm Scancem International (of the Heidelberger Zement group) was selected and, in April 2000, took over the management of the company. Scancem now maintains 75 percent of the assets with the remaining 25 percent sold to local investors and company employees. The privatized company, Cimgabon, has become profitable with the launch of the n ... [Read More]

About STP - US Embassy, Libreville

Sao Tome and Principe (STP), is a developing nation located off the coast of Gabon, in west central Africa. STP is roughly five times the size of Washington, D.C. in the United States. STP is the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous. The capital is Sao Tome. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

The Ambassador’s residence, a U.S. Government-owned property, is an elegant, spacious, two-story house located on the beach near the airport. The entire property has been landscaped and fenced. A paved driveway, ample parking space, and a three-car garage are provided. The main house has six bedrooms, eight baths, two studies, and large dining and living rooms. A large, well-equipped kitchen and staff housing complete the floor plan. The garden features a variety of flowering plants and trees. Spacious patios on the sea side of the house overlook a swimming pool and adjoining cabana. FurnishingsLast Updated:  2/12/2004 2:25 PM Since furnished quarters are provided for all Government personnel, furniture need not be brought to post. The allowance for the shipment of household effects ... [Read More]

Gabon

The country's economy is underdiversified and heavily dependent upon external trade.  The State dominates much of the economy through telecommunications, timber export, and oil refinery parastatals; however, the production of wood, oil, and minerals is largely private, and the water, electric, railroad, and sugar parastatals have been privatized.  Government financial mismanagement and corruption have contributed to significant arrears in domestic and external debt payments.  Since the discovery of offshore oil in the late 1970's, the oil industry has generated nearly half of recorded gross national product; oil export earnings have allowed the country's approximately 1 million citizens to enjoy a relatively high material standard of living based on imports of consumer goods and have drawn to the country's capital, Libreville, a third of the country's citizens and many immigrants from poor African countries who work chiefly in the informal and service sectors.  Aver ... [Read More]