Wamkele Mene is calling on Gabon to accelerate efforts to transform its participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) into tangible trade and industrial gains, as the Central African nation seeks to expand exports and reduce dependence on raw commodity shipments.
During his sixth visit to Gabon, the AfCFTA Secretary-General met senior government officials to discuss strategies aimed at increasing market access for locally produced goods, strengthening regional trade integration and promoting value-added industries.
Talks with the vice-president of the government, Hermann Immongault, focused on identifying priority sectors for exports and imports under the continental trade pact and positioning Gabonese products to compete more effectively across African markets.
The discussions also centered on reducing the country’s reliance on raw commodity exports by encouraging local processing and industrialization, a key objective for many African economies seeking to capture more value from natural resources.
Gabon ratified the AfCFTA agreement in 2019 and has since established a national implementation committee, adopted its tariff offer and entered services commitments under the trade framework. The latest visit reflects growing pressure on member states to move beyond policy commitments and translate the agreement into measurable commercial activity.
The AfCFTA, which aims to create a single African market spanning more than 1.4 billion consumers, is expected to reshape regional trade flows by lowering tariffs and reducing trade barriers across the continent.
Mene also met with Zenaba Gninga Channing to discuss how the agreement could create business opportunities and employment prospects, particularly for young people and emerging entrepreneurs.
The meetings pointed to broader ambitions within Central Africa to use the AfCFTA as a platform for industrial development, investment attraction and export diversification at a time when many African governments are seeking to reduce economic vulnerability tied to commodity price fluctuations.
For Gabonese businesses, improved access to continental markets could create new demand for manufactured and processed products while expanding opportunities in sectors beyond oil and mining.
The visit is expected to continue with engagements involving private sector operators and businesses involved in regional trade, as AfCFTA officials seek feedback on operational barriers affecting cross-border commerce.
Economists have increasingly argued that the success of the AfCFTA will depend less on treaty ratifications and more on how effectively countries address logistics bottlenecks, customs delays, infrastructure gaps and regulatory barriers that continue to limit intra-African trade.
