The support programme contributed to sustainable economic development and poverty reduction in Gabon, by supporting the development and strengthening of Gabon’s trade policies and rules.

Four-fold purposes: Updating of the Gabonese Commercial Code and Establishment of a body dedicated to trade administration; Development of a Trade Policy Document for Gabon; Capacity building in trade statistics; Design of strategies to promote foreign trade and investments.

Four-fold outputs:

• The Gabonese trade code drawn up and a body dedicated to trade administration set up;
• Commercial policy document based on the broad economic guidelines for Gabon prepared;
• Reinforced capacities in terms of commercial statistics and establishment of a statistical unit within the General Directorate of Commerce;
• An Export Promotion Strategy produced; An Investment Promotion Strategy is developed; and project grants are offered in the following two identified sectors: agro-industry and tourism.

Intervention areas:

• Trade policies formulation;
• Export promotion strategies;
• Commercial policies;
• Legal services;
• Trade Statistic.

Purpose 1: Updating of the Gabonese Commercial Code and Establishment of a body dedicated to trade administration

• Audit of the legal framework for commercial activities undertaken;
• Proposal of new legal texts (unregulated or poorly regulated areas) prepared;
• Harmonization of texts (old / new) in a Commercial Code undertaken;
• Audit of legal texts on the status of civil servants carried out;
• Proposal of legal texts establishing the Body prepared;
• ENA / EPCA Trade discipline (access, training, status (s) and career (s)) created.

Purpose 2:  Development of a Commercial Policy Document for Gabon

• Diagnosis of constraints to trade development carried out;
• Strategy to articulate commercial policy to the PSGE prepared;
• Proposal for an import policy (incentives / protection) prepared;
• Workshop on constraints to business development (Focus Group) successfully held with the participation of key stakeholders.

Purpose 3: Capacity building in trade statistics

• Indices and analysis of foreign trade statistics undertaken;
• System for streamlining procedures prepared;
• System for collecting and compiling trade statistics prepared;
• Data collection missions (non-computerized customs offices) undertaken;
• Continuing training sessions for officials of the concerned administrations carried out;
• Three training workshops successfully held with the active participation of the key stakeholders and a permanent focus group set up;
• Case studies presentation made for the benefit of the key stakeholders;
• Training materials developed and shared.

Purpose 4:  Design of strategies to promote foreign trade and investments

• Investment promotion strategy prepared;
• Export promotion strategy prepared;
• Grants for Sectoral project (Agro-industry and tourism) elaborated;
• Training on the implementation of the PPP policy undertaken with the active participation of the key stakeholders;
• Technical training to promote investments and exports undertaken with the active participation of the key stakeholders.