The theme chosen for this major gathering — “Strong businesses for sustainable growth and shared prosperity” — clearly reflected the growth momentum Gabon aims to achieve. The same spirit was evident in the addresses delivered by both economic operators and former state officials.
Last Saturday, the Congress Palace at the City of Democracy hosted the second edition of the Gabon Economic Forum (GEF), organised by the Federation of Gabonese Enterprises (FEG). Discussions focused on the role and place of the private sector in the country’s new economic direction.
A call for action was led by FEG President Alain-Claude Kouakoua, who stressed the need for a partnership of mutual trust with the state, in the interest of Gabon’s development and economic competitiveness. Vice President of the Republic, Hugues Alexandre Barro Chambrier, acknowledged this point. “Without this trust, nothing can be done; investments will not materialise,” he admitted.
In this context, while the previous edition provided an objective diagnosis of the challenges facing Gabon’s economy, GEF 2026 calls for a new step forward. “This is all the more fundamental because a diagnosis, however relevant, only has value if it leads to solutions; because an observation does not improve people’s lives; because a report does not create jobs; because ultimately, only results matter,” Mr. Kouakoua insisted.
Everyone must play their part, said Mr. Barro Chambrier. He assured that “the state (would continue) to do its share to create an attractive business environment and to ensure that the cleanup of public finances allows for timely payment of what is owed to companies.”
These statements confirm a simple truth: no country has developed sustainably without strong domestic companies, and no state has created massive employment without private investment and a dynamic entrepreneurial fabric. In short, the enterprise is not a peripheral actor in development — it is the engine.
Speaking with ease on economic and development matters, the Vice President noted that “the private sector must play its role as the driver of economic transformation, wealth creation, and improvement of people’s living conditions.” Naturally, this must be supported by the government.
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Following the second Gabon Economic Forum, the hope is to move beyond talk and truly shift to action. Because, despite some progress in recent years, one reality remains: the real challenge is no longer about announcements — it is about execution.
Capital holders do not invest in promises or intentions. They invest when there is visibility and when they trust institutions, public commitments, regulatory stability, justice, and the collective capacity to honour agreements. “That is why FEG will continue to advocate for an economic environment based on predictability, legal security, transparency, and respect for commitments,” declared Alain-Claude Kouakoua.
For him, the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opens a new chapter in the continent’s economic history. For Gabonese companies, the question is no longer just about producing for the domestic market. It is now about how to produce for Africa, how to conquer new markets, how to integrate regional value chains, and how to develop national champions capable of flying Gabon’s flag far beyond its borders.
