In Gabon, out of 188 industrial companies identified, 137 are led by expatriates, compared to 51 by Gabonese nationals. This represents 73% of these companies being managed by this type of leaders. The information was revealed on May 12, 2026, during the presentation of the results of the national survey on the Gabonese industrial sector in the presence of the Vice President of the government, Herman Immongault. This initiative was launched in 2024 with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB). It was led by the Ministry of Industry and Local Transformation.
Upon analysis, the data made public on May 12, 2026, reflect the profile of a structurally unbalanced sector, where the role of national skills remains marginal. Indeed, according to this survey, less than one in three leaders is Gabonese. This raises the issue of the country’s ability to manage its own productive apparatus, even though the natural resources and investments at stake are considerable.
The mapping of these companies accentuates the unease. Out of the 190 companies identified at the national level, 127 are located in the Estuary province alone. Grand Libreville thus captures nearly 67% of the formal industrial fabric of the country, leaving the other provinces on the margins of a dynamic that is already struggling to assert itself at the national level.
Furthermore, the survey highlights a compliance deficit. Indeed, several companies operate without having the required industrial technical approval, which is mandatory. This situation reveals shortcomings in control mechanisms. It also indicates a fragility in the state’s ability to effectively regulate a sector that it intends to modernize. Faced with these imbalances, the Gabonese Minister of Industry and Local Transformation, Lubin Ntoutoume, emphasized “the need to base any industrial policy on reliable data.” He also pointed out “weaknesses in mechanisms for collecting, processing, and disseminating industrial data” as well as “fragmentation of information sources.”
For the Gabonese government authorities, “this survey should serve as a foundation for the modernization of Gabon’s industrial information system.” It also contributes to better orienting public policies in terms of industrialization.
