Ali Bongo
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) on Friday announced that it would invest up to $140-million in the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), a joint venture between agriculture company Olam and the Gabon government.
The GSEZ had a portfolio of infrastructure projects spanning a variety of sectors, combining the expertise, networks and capital of the public and private sectors.
The AFC’s investment would make a significant contribution to the development of these projects, which included a new mineral terminal, a general logistics terminal, as well as other special infrastructure projects.
“I am pleased to be entering into this agreement with the AFC [as] it will allow us to develop the GSEZ’s existing infrastructure and to implement a number of new projects,” said Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
He added that Gabon’s relationships with influential private-sector institutions were crucial to the successful implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects.
“Ultimately, these projects will drive Gabon’s economic development and improve the lives of Gabonese citizens.”
AFC president Andrew Alli added that Gabon had an abundance of land, as well as enviable natural resources, with long-established oil, timber and mining industries, and some of the world’s largest deposits of manganese and iron-ore.
“There is huge potential for sustainable growth if the adequate supporting infrastructure is in place and the AFC intends to help Gabon meet this potential, however we can,” he noted.