Libreville: Brice Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic of Gabon, welcomed Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, to discuss the expansion of economic cooperation during an official visit to Gabon.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Zeyoudi led a high-level business delegation to Libreville, where talks were held with senior Gabonese officials to identify trade and investment opportunities and foster private-sector collaboration. The visit follows the recent signing of the UAE-Gabon Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to boost non-oil trade by reducing tariffs, eliminating trade barriers, and enhancing market access for services. The CEPA also intends to increase investment flows and create opportunities for SMEs.
In 2025, bilateral non-oil trade reached US$320.7 million, more than doubling the 2021 figures and highlighting the positive momentum in recent years. During the visit, the delegation met with Gabonese government Ministers, including Thierry Minko, Minister of Economy; Sosth¨ne Nguema, Minister of Mines and Geological Resources; Clotaire Kondja, Minister of Petroleum and Gas; Philippe Tonangoye, Minister of Energy; Pac´me Kossy, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development; Elsa Bivigou, Minister of Health; and Arthur Lemami, Director of the President's cabinet.
Al Zeyoudi emphasized the progress in the bilateral economic partnership and the shared focus on expanding trade and investment ties. He stated that the UAE is committed to deepening this partnership and advancing collaboration with Gabon, as demonstrated by the CEPA signing.
The discussions focused on opportunities to enhance cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, logistics, renewable energy, and digital commerce, aligning with the UAE's economic diversification strategy and its engagement with African markets. The UAE aims to reinforce long-term economic connectivity with partners like Gabon through ongoing collaboration.
The visit concluded with both nations reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and achieving measurable outcomes. The delegation included representatives from key UAE industries, showing commercial interest in Gabon across sectors such as agriculture, mining, oil and gas, defense, energy, aviation, health, marine transport, and logistics.