Following a first Francophonie Economic and Commercial Mission in Southeast Asia, which brought together more than 520 entrepreneurs and economic stakeholders from over 20 French-speaking countries last March, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) is organising a second Economic and Commercial Mission in Central Africa (MEAC) in collaboration with the host countries' authorities.
The second Economic and Commercial Mission of the Francophonie, held from 06 to 08 July in Libreville, was an opportunity for local business promoters to present their products to the public. An event held through a trade fair organised in the wake of meetings and exchanges between participants at this Francophone business forum. The symbolic ribbon of this edition was cut by the Gabonese Minister of Trade Yves-Fernand Manfoumbi, accompanied by the Administrator of the International Organisation of la Francophonie (IOIF).
100 French-speaking entrepreneurs, 30 countries, more than 300 companies gathered in Gabon and Kigali for this unprecedented event for which Laïka Mba, MD ST DIGITAL GABON had the honour of participating both as an entrepreneur and as a panellist on digital goods and services.
Cette Mission économique et commerciale de la Francophonie, initiée par l'OIF, a démarré le 06 juillet à Libreville sous le thème « Faire des affaires au Gabon avec des entreprises de l'espace francophone ». A milestone marked by the main conference focused on the theme: "New commercial opportunities in Central Africa in the era of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)." This business event also had a distinctive feature: enabling national and international companies to forge Business-to-Business (B to B) partnerships.
Participants were able to prospect markets, discuss business, and network with several Gabonese economic operators across the three sectors of activity: agro-industry, renewable energy, and digital goods and services. An opportunity to better understand the business environment, the specificities, and the investment challenges in Gabon, through field visits to local companies and the exchange of experiences and sharing of business perspectives highlighting the specificities and challenges of the targeted sectors.
If at the end of this mission, Gabon hopes to leverage it to accelerate the transformation and diversification of its economy, the mission should likewise "provide companies across the entire French-speaking world with support for sustainable growth by leveraging their economic, technological and financial potential in central Africa and beyond, while capitalising on the privileged ties and comparative advantages of sharing a common language".
Gabon is more than ever a land of opportunity conducive to the establishment of new businesses.
