Why invest in Gabon

Gabon is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), which groups six states: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. They share a central bank, the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), a common external tariff and a community customs code. A company based in Gabon can therefore plan at the scale of this regional market.

The country also applies the harmonised business law of the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), which has 17 member states. OHADA uniform acts (commercial companies, securities, accounting, arbitration) provide an identical legal framework across these countries.

Gabon's currency is the Central African CFA franc (code XAF), issued by the BEAC. According to the BEAC, it has been pegged to the euro since 1 January 1999 at a fixed rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs, and its external convertibility is guaranteed by the French Treasury. The fixed parity limits exchange rate risk on flows denominated in euros. Transfers abroad remain governed by the CEMAC foreign exchange regulation (see the investor guide).

Gabon's economy relies on oil, manganese and timber. According to Gabonreview, the country is the world's second-largest manganese producer, and forest covers more than 90% of its land according to the World Bank. The government aims to increase local processing of these resources: according to Gabonreview, the Council of Ministers of 30 May 2025 decided to ban exports of unprocessed manganese from 1 January 2029, after a transition period for operators.

The Nkok special economic zone, managed by Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), lies 27 km from Libreville. Launched in 2010, it covers 1,126 hectares, of which 600 are developed. According to its operator, it hosts 144 companies from 17 countries in 22 sectors, with a strong focus on wood processing. The zone has a one-stop shop, a power plant, a rail siding and a container depot. The applicable tax regime is described on the incentives page.

A French-speaking country, Gabon joined the Commonwealth in June 2022, after its application was approved by the heads of government meeting in Kigali. Partially suspended in September 2023, it was restored to full membership by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on 15 July 2025. This dual membership eases relations with both English-speaking and French-speaking investors.

According to the final communiqué published by Gabonactu, the Council of Ministers of 23 October 2025 announced that an investor contributing at least 10 billion CFA francs may obtain a permanent resident card valid for ten years. The National Investment Promotion Agency (ANPI-Gabon) acts as a one-stop shop for welcoming investors and registering companies.

Investors should also consider the weaknesses identified by international financial institutions. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook of April 2026, gross public debt is estimated at 78.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, up from 70.9% in 2024. The World Bank points to liquidity pressures and payment arrears, and growth remains dependent on commodities. The economic trends page covers these points in detail.