Gabon targets 7% growth rate by 2030
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK / Gabon’s economy has struggled to surpass 5% annual growth for over a decade, but President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is charting a decisive break from the country’s long-standing reliance on raw material exports.
In a landmark policy address, he unveiled a bold roadmap designed to revitalize Gabon’s economic landscape and set the nation on a sustainable growth trajectory.
Ending the curse of resource dependence
The head of state delivered a stark assessment of Gabon’s economic stagnation: « A rentier model that fails to generate real growth — let alone inclusive prosperity ».
He criticized the nation’s reliance on unprocessed oil and manganese exports, labeling it an economic paradox: « Shipping crude abroad is like shipping jobs overseas. »
Three pillars to drive a new economic dawn
To reverse this decline and build a robust, job-creating economy, the President outlined a three-pronged strategy:
- Systematic industrialization through local processing of raw materials.
- Economic diversification, with a sharp focus on agriculture and service sectors.
- Streamlining the business climate to attract investment and foster enterprise.
The 2026–2030 National Growth and Development Plan (NGDP)
This vision is anchored in a comprehensive initiative: the National Growth and Development Plan (NGDP) for 2026–2030. The plan aims to catapult Gabon’s growth rate to an unprecedented 6–7% annually.
The NGDP targets high-potential sectors such as manganese processing, poultry and cattle value chains, digital innovation, and leveraging Gabon’s forestry wealth in global carbon markets.
« Gabon possesses the resources. What it lacked was the right governance. That has now been restored. »
By aligning economic ambition with restored governance discipline, the President aims to position Gabon among Africa’s most dynamic economies by 2030.
