In Libreville, the President of the Gabonese Transition, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, welcomed a delegation of Egyptian businessmen as part of a partnership aimed at boosting investments. The Nkok Special Investment Zone and other strategic sectors are at the heart of this new era of cooperation between Libreville and Cairo.
The President of the Transition, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, welcomed a delegation of Egyptian businessmen on December 27, 2024, as part of an exchange aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. The visit is a continuation of the recent official mission of the Gabonese Head of State to Egypt. The partnership between Libreville and Cairo, already marked by active military cooperation, is now extending to new strategic sectors, including infrastructure, trade and housing.
During the meeting, President Oligui Nguema recalled the importance of alliances in times of transition: ” We were very well received by President Al Sisi who promised to send us businessmen to Libreville to help us in this transition. And as I said, the best friends you can find around the world are in difficult times. That is why we are just as happy here to see you come and invest with us, in complete transparency and freedom .”
The discussions highlighted the potential of the Nkok Special Investment Zone (ZIS), located 27 kilometers from Libreville, as a key lever for economic cooperation between the two countries. ” As for Gabon, the Nkok Special Investment Zone can certainly be used to create a new framework for economic cooperation. It is indeed our first multi-sector industrial park ,” explained Gabonese Minister of Public Works, Flavien Nzengui Nzoundou, before adding: ” it is also willing to offer Egyptian economic operators the opportunity to ensure the expansion of their activities, thus contributing to the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, while opening up access to the Central African market for them .”
Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty praised Gabon’s economic and strategic assets. “ Of course, we can redirect some of the investments here to Gabon. Given that you have a conducive business environment, you have stability, security, and of course, you want to involve the private sector. The private sector would like to contribute to the realization of your vision of excellence for the well-being of Gabon .”
This meeting illustrates Gabon’s commitment to a new phase of its development, marked by reforms aimed at improving the business climate, attracting foreign investment and stimulating job creation. The ongoing political transition provides an environment conducive to economic diversification, while efforts to strengthen stability and transparency are reinforcing the confidence of international investors.
For Gabon, the visit of Egyptian investors is a sign of recognition of its economic potential in the region. The country aspires to become an industrial hub in Central Africa, thanks to strategic partnerships and arrangements such as the Nkok Zone. Egypt, for its part, sees this cooperation as an opportunity to access a growing African market, valued at nearly $14 billion.
The prospects opened up by these exchanges promise a lasting collaboration, focused on inclusion, resilience and job creation, while strengthening ties between Libreville and Cairo.
