Gabon aims to position its businesses successfully in the African market

Gabon is actively working to maximize its gains from the continental market. On Friday, 11 September 2026, on the sidelines of a technical workshop dedicated to validating the updated national implementation strategy for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Minister of Commerce, SMEs-SMIs, and Youth Entrepreneurship held talks with Adama Ekberg Coulibaly, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

This meeting took place as the Gabonese government seeks to boost the country’s involvement in intra-African trade, enabling domestic enterprises to fully exploit the commercial avenues opened up by the AfCFTA.

During the discussions, the UNECA resident representative highlighted how crucial it is for Gabon to have an updated national framework to guide its integration into this vast continental marketplace. This strategic tool, he noted, will help the nation outline its core priorities and support local economic players in expanding their trade across African borders.

Empowering small businesses and young entrepreneurs

Particular emphasis will be placed on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) along with young business owners, who represent a vital segment of the local economy. The updated roadmap aims to identify key drivers to ease their access to new markets and facilitate their integration into regional and continental value chains.

Furthermore, UNECA reiterated its commitment to supporting Gabon in executing this strategy. This collaboration will focus on building national capacities, fostering private sector growth, and enhancing the overall competitiveness of Gabonese firms.

For the authorities in Gabon, the ultimate objective is to translate continental trade integration into tangible economic advantages, such as business expansion, job creation, economic diversification, and higher valuation of local products.

The validation of this revised national strategy marks a decisive step in preparing Gabon for continental competition and unlocking its economic potential. Through this initiative, the government intends to turn the AfCFTA into a powerful engine for economic transformation and private sector development.