The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the Government of Gabon have agreed on a new implementation partnership aimed at accelerating the country’s participation in Africa’s single market and transforming its industrial and export potential into tangible trade opportunities.
The partnership was sealed during a two-day official visit to Gabon by the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, H.E. Wamkele Mene, who held high-level engagements with the country’s leadership, private sector representatives, and regional institutions.
The Secretary-General was received by the President of the Republic of Gabon, H.E. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, as well as the Vice-President of the Government, H.E. Hermann Immongault, the Vice-President of the Republic, H.E. Hugues Alexandre Barro Chambrier, and the Minister of Trade, SMEs and Youth Entrepreneurship, H.E. Zenaba Gninga Channing.
During the meetings, President Oligui Nguema reaffirmed Gabon’s commitment to implementing the AfCFTA Agreement and positioning the country as a leading contributor to Africa’s economic integration agenda. In response, H.E. Mene welcomed Gabon’s determination to play a greater role in continental trade and industrial development.
A key highlight of the visit was a high-level public-private dialogue that brought together Gabonese businesses and AfCFTA experts to discuss practical opportunities and challenges in trading under the Agreement. Discussions focused on competitiveness, access to finance, logistics, and understanding Rules of Origin requirements.
The AfCFTA Secretariat showcased a range of tools designed to support businesses, including the Rules of Origin Manual, the AfCFTA e-Tariff Book, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund. Emphasis was placed on creating opportunities for women and youth-led enterprises to expand across African markets.
Mr. Mene highlighted the strategic potential of Gabon’s Nkok Special Economic Zone, especially in timber processing and pharmaceuticals, noting that value-added products from Gabon can access markets across West, North, East, and Southern Africa under the AfCFTA framework.
Minister Zenaba Gninga Channing called on Gabonese businesses to move beyond raw material exports and become active participants in intra-African trade by producing and exporting higher-value goods.
The visit also produced a significant trade facilitation initiative with discussions advancing plans for a one-stop border post at Kye-Ossi, located at the junction of Gabon, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. The proposed border facility will integrate digital trade facilitation tools, reduce barriers to trade, and improve regional connectivity. The Secretary-General welcomed a cooperation agreement signed by the Chambers of Commerce of the three countries and encouraged their participation in the AfCFTA Private Sector Dialogue Platform.
At the regional level, the Secretary-General met with the leadership of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), where both institutions reaffirmed the critical role of Regional Economic Communities as building blocks of the AfCFTA. ECCAS noted that all its Member States have ratified the AfCFTA Agreement and its Protocols, and both parties agreed to develop a joint action plan to accelerate implementation across Central Africa.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to move from policy ambition to practical implementation, positioning Gabon to leverage the AfCFTA as a platform for industrialisation, value addition, job creation, and expanded trade across the African continent.
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