RESTRICTED  WORLD  TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/S/188 
27 August 2007  
 
(07-3524) 
Trade Policy Review Body  
   
 
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
 
Report by the Secretariat 
 
GABON 
 
  
 
This report, prepared for the second Trade Policy Review of Gabon, has been 
drawn up by the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility.  The Secretariat has, 
as required by the Agreement establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
(Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization), sought clarification from Gabon on its trade policies and 
practices. 
 
Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to 
Mr Jacques Degbelo (Tel.:  022 739 5583). 
 
Document WT/TPR/G/188 contains the policy statement submitted by Gabon. 
 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circ ulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Gabon. Gabon WT/TPR/S/188 
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CONTENTS 
 
  Page 
SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS vii 
 
 (1) ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT vii 
 (2) TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES viii  (3) TRADE POLICY INSTRUMENTS viii 
 (4) SECTORAL POLICIES x 
 (5) TRADE POLICY AND TRADING PARTNERS xi 
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 1 
 (1) M
AIN FEATURES OF THE ECONOMY  1 
 (2) R ECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS  3 
 (3) T RADE AND INVESTMENT  6 
 (i) Trade in goods and services 6 
 (ii) Investment 8 
 (4) O UTLOOK  11 
II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES 12 
 (1) O VERVIEW  12 
 (2) P OLICY OBJECTIVES  14 
 (3) T RADE AGREEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS  15 
 (i) The WTO 15 
 (ii) Regional agreements 16 
 (4) I NVESTMENT  21 
ANNEXE II.1:  TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 25 
 (1) O VERVIEW OF NEEDS  25 
 (2) P OLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND FORMULATION  25 
 (3) I NTEGRATION OF TRADE IN THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY  26 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 27 
 (1) I NTRODUCTION  27 
 (2) M EASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS  27 
 (i) Registration 27 
 (ii) Customs procedures 28  (iii) Rules of origin 30 
 (iv) Customs levies 30 
 (v) Prohibitions, quantitative restrictions and licensing 37  (vi) Standardization, accreditation and certification 38 
 (vii) Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures 39 
 (viii) Rules on packaging, marking and labelling 39 
 WT/TPR/S/188 Trade Policy Review 
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Page 
 
 (ix) Contingency measures 39 
 (x) Other measures 40 
 (3) M EASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS  40 
 (i) Customs procedures 40 
 (ii) Export duties and taxes 40  (iii) Prohibitions, quantitative restrictions, export controls and licensing 40 
 (iv) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 41 
 (v) Export subsidies, promotion and assistance 41 
 (4) M
EASURES AFFECTING PRODUCTION AND TRADE  41 
 (i) Incentives 41 
 (ii) Competition and price control regime 42  (iii) State trading, State-owned enterprises and privatization 43 
 (iv) Government procurement 46 
 (v) Protection of intellectual property rights 47 
IV. TRADE POLICY AND PRACTICE, BY SECTOR 51 
 (1) I
NTRODUCTION  51 
 (2) A GRICULTURE AND RELATED ACTIVITIES  52 
 (i) Overview 52 
 (ii) Agricultural policy 54  (iii) Policy by sector 55 
 (iv) Fishing and fish-farming 56 
 (v) Forestry 57 
 (3) M
INES, ENERGY AND WATER  59 
 (i) Mining products 59 
 (ii) Petroleum products and natural gas 61  (iii) Electricity and water 62 
 (4) M
ANUFACTURING SECTOR  63 
 (5) S ERVICES  65 
 (i) Transport 65 
 (ii) Tourism 68 
 (iii) Telecommunications and postal services 69  (iv) Financial services 70 
 
REFERENCES  73 
 
APPENDIX TABLES 79 
 Gabon WT/TPR/S/188 
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CHARTS 
 
Page 
 
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
 
I.1 Structure of trade in goods, 2000-2006 9 
I.2 Direction of trade in goods, 2000-2006 10  
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
 
III.1 Breakdown of MFN applied tariffs, 2007 33 
III.2 Tariff escalation, 2007 33  
 
TABLES 
 
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
 I.1 Gabon in figures, 2000-2006 2 
I.2 Main economic and financial indicators, 1999-2006 3 
I.3 Balance of payments, 2001-2006 7  
II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES 
 II.1 Gabon's principal trade-related laws and regulations, July 2007 13 
II.2 Notifications to the WTO, 1995 to July 2007 16 
II.3 Investment incentives, July 2007 23  
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
 
III.1 Customs revenue by item, 2004-2006 30 
III.2 MFN tariff structure, 2007 32 III.3 Summary of tariffs, 2007 34 
III.4 Differences in internal taxation of imported and local products, 2007 36 
III.5 Customs exemptions, 2002-2006 37 III.6 State holdings in the capital of companies, July 2007 44 
III.7 Intervention by the Directorate-General of Government Procurement, 2004-2006 47 
III.8 Fines and terms of imprisonment under the revised Bangui Agreement (1999) 48 III.9 Subjects and terms of protection under the revised Bangui Agreement (1999) 49 
III.10 Industrial property titles regi stered by the CEPIG, 2002-2006 49 
 IV. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES, BY SECTOR 
 
IV.1 Food crop production, 2002-2005 53 IV.2 Fishery products:  production and trade, 2000-2005 53 
IV.3 Production, exports and local sales of forest products, 2002-2006 58 
IV.4 Gabonese crude oil, 2000-2006 61 IV.5 Port activities at Owendo and Port-Gentil, 2002-2005 65 
IV.6 Air traffic trends at Libreville Airport, 2003-2005 67 
IV.7 Fiscal and customs incentives for investment in tourism, June 2007 68 
IV.8 Trends in telecommunications services indicators, 2002-2005 70 
IV.9 Trends in insurance company turnover, 2003-2005 72 WT/TPR/S/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page vi 
 
 
APPENDIX TABLES 
 
Page 
 
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
AI.1 Structure of exports, 2000-2006 81 
AI.2 Structure of imports, 2000-2006 83 AI.3 Destination of exports, 2000-2006 85 
AI.4 Origin of imports, 2000-2006 86 
 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
 AIII.1 Customs duties by HS chapter,  2007 87 
 
IV. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES, BY SECTOR  
AIV.1 Customs duties, by ISIC Rev. 2 category, 2007 90 
 Gabon WT/TPR/S/188 
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SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS 
 
(1) ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
1. Between 2001 and 2006, the 
Gabonese economy experienced variable real 
economic growth, with an average rate of 2 per cent, in line particularly with oil production, which accounts for about half of the gross domestic product (GDP).  In view of 
the inexorable depletion of the country's oil 
reserves, diversification of the economic base remains the key objective of the authorities.  However, the emergence of non-oil-related activities remains tentative, apart from the exploitation of Gabon's forest or mining 
resources.  Agriculture and manufacturing are 
still embryonic (3.5 and 5.7 per cent of GDP in 2006, respectively).  Gabon is likely to continue feeling the effects of "Dutch disease" for some time to come. 
2. Monopolies (public or private, de 
facto or de jure ) still predominate.  The 
privatization programme has generally enabled monopolies to be transferred from the public sector to the private sector, which, in such an operating environment, clearly does not feel 
the need to improve th e competitiveness of its 
goods and services.  These monopolies, in conjunction with factors such as the tariff structure and basic infrastructure problems, help to keep both prices and production costs 
at fairly high levels, thereby reducing the 
competitiveness of Gabonese goods and services. 
3. Oil has made Gabon a relatively high-
income country, with per capita GDP 
estimated at US$6,778 in 2006 (86 per cent up 
on 2001).  However, Gabon's human development index remains relatively low; the country was classed only 124th (out of 177 countries) in the UNDP ranking, and one third of households were living below the 
poverty line.  Such poverty highlights a 
serious problem in the distribution of national income, linked, inter alia , to the management 
of oil wealth and governance, in spite of the recent progress made in these areas.  In view 
 of the poverty level, in December 2005 Gabon 
adopted a Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP), with its sights set on the Millennium Development Goals. 
4. The generally restrictive monetary 
policy of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) has kept inflation under control.  However, inflation stood at 4 per cent in 2006 and is expected to reach 5.7 per cent in 2007, 
driven up mainly by increased fuel prices.  
Moreover, Government finance has benefited 
from soaring world prices for oil products since 2003, with a primary fiscal surplus of about 13.3 per cent of GDP in 2006.  Gabon has taken advantage of this capital inflow to 
increase public spending as well as to reduce 
the net present value of its debt (domestic and external).  Thus, the ratio of the stock of debt to GDP was reduced from 76.9 per cent in 2004 to 44.1 per cent in 2006.  However, in 
the context of the gradual depletion of the oil 
deposits currently being exploited, the Government's heavy reliance on oil income  remains a concern. 
5. The ratio of trade to nominal GDP in 
Gabon was around 93 per cent in 2006, which 
testifies to the importance of trade to the 
economy.  Between 2001 and 2005, the value of oil exports doubled as world prices soared, while imports increased by only 55 per cent.  As a result, the trade balance has risen 
significantly since 2004.  The traditional 
services account deficit has substantially worsened since 2004, partly due to the increase in oil and trade services, as Gabon depends largely on other countries for their 
provision.  The external current account has, 
however, remained in surplus. 
6. The main export product is oil, 
accounting for 85 per cent of total exports, followed far behind by wood (7 per cent).  Imports, on the other hand, show much greater 
product diversity.  Gabon is one of Africa's 
largest per capita impor ters of food products, 
medicines and wage goods, owing to its relatively high per capita income.  The United States of America is the primary destination 
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for Gabonese exports, while the European 
Union (in particular France) is the main supplier of imports.  Trade with other CEMAC countries remains limited. 
(2) T
RADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
7. The Ministry of Trade is responsible 
for defining, implementing and evaluating Gabon's trade policy.  It is assisted in WTO-related issues by an inter-ministerial 
committee and consults employers' 
associations on an ad hoc basis.  Taxation and customs matters come under the purview of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance.  Access to sectoral investment regimes (hydrocarbons, mining, forestry, tourism) is 
handled by the relevant ministries. 
8. Gabon is a founding Member of the 
WTO and grants at least most-favoured-nation (MFN) treatment to all its trading partners. It participates in WTO ministerial meetings but 
is neither a party nor an observer to any of the 
plurilateral agreements  concluded under the 
auspices of the WTO.  Gabon's participation in the multilateral trading system remains limited, however.  In spite of participation by Gabonese officials in many WTO activities, 
the country's technical assistance needs, 
already identified at the time of its first Trade Policy Review (TPR) in 2001, remain substantial.  The area s in which technical 
assistance has been requested include 
notifications; implementation of WTO 
Agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT); harmonization of its national laws and regulations with WTO principles and rules; 
capacity-building with a view to participation 
in regular WTO activities and trade negotiations; dismantling of supply-side constraints; and integration of trade policies into development strategies, in particular the Growth and Poverty Re duction Strategy Paper 
(GPRSP), from which trade is largely absent. 
9. Gabon and its neighbours have a long 
common history of regional integration.  Gabon is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), the common currency of which is 
pegged to the euro.  Having adopted a common external tariff (CET) in 1993, CEMAC members are currently establishing a 
customs union.  Gabon grants, in principle, 
duty-free entry to imports of products originating in other CEMAC member countries, subject to compliance with the rules of origin.  CEMAC and associated countries 
are negotiating an Economic Partnership 
Agreement (EPA) with the European Union which is scheduled for implementation in January 2008.  Implementation of the CET adopted by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS/CEEAC), an 
economic area incorporating the CEMAC, is 
not yet under way. 
10. Gabon's investment regime was 
established in 1998 and the Private Investment Promotion Agency (APIP), set up in 
consequence, became operational in 2004.  
The APIP can supply single-window services to economic operators.  The regime is complemented by sectoral frameworks, as well as the scheme adopted in 2006 for the promotion of small and medium-sized 
enterprises in which Gabonese nationals are 
the majority shareholders.  Incentives are offered to start-ups in the industrial, mining, agricultural and forestry sectors.  Incentives and protection measures may be included in 
establishment agreements, which are 
negotiated on an individual basis by the enterprises and the clauses of which are, in principle, confidential. 
(3) T
RADE POLICY INSTRUMENTS  
11. In general, Gabon applies the CEMAC 
acts with respect to customs matters.  With a few exceptions, its tariff is based on the CEMAC common external tariff (CET). All tariff rates are ad valorem  with a simple 
average of 18.2 per cent.  Agricultural 
products (WTO definition) are subject to 
heavier taxation (a simple average of 21.9 per cent) than non-agricultural products (excluding petroleum products) (17.6 per cent).  Overall, the tariff shows mixed 
escalation, which is not conducive to the Gabon WT/TPR/S/188 
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establishment of certain industries or to 
promoting the competitiveness of some domestic manufactures in international markets.  Moreover, the strong positive tariff 
escalation in certain industries conceals a 
relatively high level of effective protection, which does not encourage the international competitiveness of the local goods concerned.  The tariff structure does not therefore favour 
economic diversification. 
12. During the Uruguay Round, Gabon 
bound all of its tariff lines (at a ceiling of 60 per cent for agricultural products and 15 per cent for most non-agricultural products) with the exception of a few tariff lines bound 
at 60 per cent.  However, on around 39 per 
cent of tariff lines, the applied rates are higher than the bound rates.  "Other duties and taxes" are bound at a ceiling of 150 per cent.  The applied rates of these other duties and taxes 
are considerably lower: 1 per cent for the 
Community integration tax (TCI), applied to imports from outside the CEMAC; 0.4 per cent for the Community integration contribution (CCI) of the ECCAS, applied to imports from outside the ECCAS; and 0.05 per 
cent for the OHADA levy.  Average border 
protection (all duties and taxes) is therefore 19.65 per cent.  Gabon did not have recourse to contingency measures during the period under review. 
13. Internal taxes, such as value-added tax 
(VAT) (18 per cent) and excise duty, are collected on imports and, to a certain extent, on local products.  Some local products are taxed at a lower rate of 10 per cent or are 
exempt from VAT, unlike competing imports, 
which poses a problem of consistency with regard to the principle of national treatment.  Furthermore, unlike local goods, the taxable base for VAT on imports includes excise duty, where applicable, and the taxable base for 
excise duty on local products is reduced by at 
least 30 per cent. 
14. Since its first TPR, Gabon has made 
progress in implementing the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation and appears  
 to have used its methodology since 
12 July 2004; nevertheless, it maintains a reservation regarding the order of the procedures to be used if the transaction value 
is rejected and is seeking technical assistance 
in order to familiarize the customs administration with such procedures.  Customs procedures have been computerized in all the main offices and there is a fee for using the 
computer system, calculated on the basis of 
the time taken to enter the data needed to process the documentation.  A "green channel" is available to importers deemed reliable, for imports of perishable pr oducts (at the airport) 
and exports of wood. 
15. Imports of a number of goods which 
could compete with local products are subject to various restrictions.  The prohibition on sugar imports (of non-CEMAC origin) is still in place in order to protect the sole domestic 
producer (SUCAF-Gabon, a private-law 
company) and this measure was extended to CEMAC community level as of 2006.  The only domestic cement producer in Gabon (a private-law company) holds the import monopoly for this product.  The State-owned 
enterprise SOGARA has the monopoly on the 
production and importation of petroleum products.  The private-law company SMAG has the monopoly on the production and importation of flour and SIAT-Gabon (a 
private-law company) holds a monopoly on 
the production of edible oils, as well as the importation and marketing of edible oils of non-CEMAC origin.  These products may also be subject to price control.  Moreover, Gabon 
maintains controls on imports of certain 
products to protect both consumer, animal and plant health and the environment. 
16. Exports of logs and manganese are 
subject to export tax (17 and 3.5 per cent, respectively).  Gabon is on the positive list of 
countries from which the EU accepts imports 
of fishery products.  Forestry companies have been able to market wood freely since 2006, following the termination of the State monopoly on the sale of the main species 
(okoumé and ozigo).  Export-related fiscal  
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benefits will be granted under the Mandji 
Island free zone regime, which, however, remains at the project stage. 
17. In principle, the new Government 
Procurement Code recommends transparency 
and favours the use of tendering.  The Gabonese competition and standardization regimes are in the early stages of development.  The industrial property regime was 
harmonized with the provisions of the WTO 
TRIPS Agreement as a result of the entry into force in 2002 of the revised Bangui Agreement.  The copyright regime does, however, need updating.  Gabon is attempting to combat counterfeiting, which affects 
fashion and luxury products, film and music 
CDs and DVDs and wage goods in particular. 
(4) S
ECTORAL POLICIES  
18. The Gabonese economy is still based 
essentially on the exploitation of the country's 
natural resources, in particular mining (mainly 
oil) and forestry.  Since reaching an historical peak in 1997, annual oil production has continuously declin ed, despite heavy 
investment by prospecting and exploration companies.  However, the boom in world 
prices since 2003 has more than offset the fall 
in volume by substantially increasing oil income.  Gabon also mines manganese and further diversification will come with the exploitation of the huge iron ore deposits of 
Belinga, planned for 2011.  The average 
customs tariff rate for mining products is 11.3 per cent, to which should be added other duties and taxes and internal taxes.  According to the new Forestry Code of 2001, all forestry 
concessions must, in principle, be subject to 
sustainable management but, in practice, there is no guarantee of full compliance in this respect.  The State intends to increase the log processing rate from around 43 per cent in 2006 to 75 per cent by 2012, and export quotas 
for logs are scheduled as of mid-2007. 
19. Agriculture enjoys natural advantages, 
such as an abundance of fertile land and a favourable climate, but Gabon has no agricultural tradition.  Imports account for about 60 per cent of the food products 
consumed in Gabon, hence its aim to increase agricultural production by 45 per cent by 2015 in order to reduce dependence in this respect.  
However, the rural exodus, with around three-
quarters of the population currently living in the cities, and difficulties in accessing rural areas hinder the exploitation of Gabon's agricultural potential.  The agricultural sector 
is nevertheless perceived as having the 
potential to contribute effectively to the fight against poverty in Gabon.  To this end, the State has undertaken to provide funding for the revitalization of the coffee-cocoa sector by means of subsidized prices.  The area reserved 
for peri-urban agriculture has been expanded 
and enjoys a range of support measures, such as training, supply of inputs, material and equipment, and information on target markets.  The average tariff rate, as high as 23.7 per cent 
in the agricultural sector (ISIC (Rev.2) 
definition), is hard to reconcile with the declared policy of reducing poverty.  
20. The main manufacturing branches 
include the agri-food industries (sugar, mineral water, edible oil, dairy products, cigarettes, 
beverages), oil refining, cement and log 
processing.  With a few exceptions (the woodworking, cigarette, dairy product and sugar industries), these enterprises serve the local market because of the limited 
competitiveness (for many reasons) of the 
products and low capacity.  Most agri-food enterprises have been privatized and their privileges maintained or strengthened.  They are also protected by trade measures such as 
relatively high tariff rates (averaging 17.9 per 
cent) and flexible application of internal taxes.  Activities covered by a monopoly are, as a general rule, subject to price control.  Petroleum product prices are administered and rose 25 per cent in March 2007, the first 
increase since 2002; the cost of the related 
subsidy accounted for 3 per cent of GDP in 2005. 
21. The distribution of electricity in the 
concession areas (Libreville and Gabon's other 
urban centres) is under the monopoly of the 
Gabon Energy and Water Company (SEEG), Gabon WT/TPR/S/188 
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in principle until 2017.  The generation and 
transport of electricity have been liberalized, but so far do not seem to have attracted any investors, and the SEEG electricity supply 
appears increasingly inadequate. A possible 
explanation for this is the obligation on any new producer within the areas covered by the SEEG concession to sell its production to the SEEG, which also holds a monopoly on water 
production, transport and distribution.  Water 
and electricity rates are controlled and, since July 2007, the bills of the underprivileged have been paid by the State. 
22. Gabon has an under-exploited 
potential for the provision of services.  It is 
hoped to develop ecotourism in order to profit 
from the extraordinary wealth of fauna and flora to be found in its forests.  In 2002, the State established a network of national parks and protected areas covering 11.5 per cent of 
national territory; Gabon is, after Costa Rica, 
the country that has protected the largest percentage of its territory.  Hotel infrastructure development is subsid ized (conditional upon 
the employment of Gabonese nationals), but the sites are poorly served by the transport 
services and there are few good roads.  Driven 
by mobile telephony, telecommunications services have shown considerable progress, with a teledensity of over 50 per cent in 2006.  Gabon Télécom, the incumbent operator, was 
partially privatized in February 2007 but 
retains its monopoly on basic fixed telecommunications services, in principle until 2012.  The State still has a monopoly on basic postal services, but express delivery courier 
services may be freely supplied.  The State has 
withdrawn from the supply of certain rail and waterway transport services and port and airport services, in most cases transferring the monopolies to private investors. 
23. The modest amount of financing made 
available for production activities by the 
excessively liquid banking system has encouraged the development of microcredit, which generally finances small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), normally ineligible 
under the traditional financial system; the 
State is also considering granting subsidized loans to SMEs.  The insurance market in 
Gabon is organized around non-life insurance (four providers) and life insurance (two providers), and its turnover is stagnating.  
Insurance of merchandise imports and motor 
vehicle insurance are mandatory.  Banking, insurance, hotel and restaurant services are covered by Gabon's specific commitments under the WTO's General Agreement on Trade 
in Services (GATS). 
(5) T
RADE POLICY AND TRADING 
PARTNERS  
24. Gabon's participation in the WTO and 
regional arrangements seems to reflect its intention, as a small economy dependent on 
other countries for the bulk of its consumption 
and its few exports (oil in particular and, to a lesser extent, wood), to operate in larger markets with a view to economic diversification.  However, the business 
environment, dominated by monopolies 
operating in what is a small domestic market, is not conducive to the fulfilment of this objective.  The recent economic revival, owing mainly to the sharp rise in oil prices, should not obscure the difficulties experienced by 
Gabon and the major challenge it faces in the 
reduction of poverty, the level of which, together with basic infrastructure, is a poor reflection of the country's level of development.  Ambitious reforms, of a 
structural nature in particular, are much 
needed, especially in view of the inexorable depletion of the country's oil reserves. 
25. In order to revitalize the Gabonese 
economy and provide a sound basis for its 
diversification, reforms must target 
governance (including economic governance) and promote competition and the international competitiveness of local goods and services.  To this end, a competition regime, based on international rules and principles, needs to be 
effectively implemented.  Compliance with 
existing rules, including those relating to investment incentives, coupled with the abolition of advantages and protection granted selectively and at times in disregard of 
Gabon's international commitments, should WT/TPR/S/188 Trade Policy Review 
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help to improve the business environment.  Oil 
resources could still be used, before the reserves are depleted, to improve infrastructure and reduce production and 
transaction costs, with a view to the better 
exploitation by Gabon of its comparative advantages. 
26. Trade reforms, in particular those 
aimed at ensuring Gabon's compliance with, 
and improvement of , its multilateral commitments (including under the General 
Agreement on Trade in Services), should enhance the credibility and predictability of the trade regime.  By improving the business 
environment, the various reforms should help 
to attract the capital needed by Gabon to diversify its economy.  The international community could help to improve market access for goods and services of potential 
interest to 
Gabon .