The Head of State and the President of Gabon witness the signing ceremony of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between the two countries
Abu Dhabi, 6 February / WAM / His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and His Excellency Brice Olegé Nguema, President of the Republic of Gabon, today witnessed the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Gabon, which aims to advance bilateral trade and investment relations to new heights of growth and prosperity.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Gabon represents an important milestone in the path of bilateral relations between the two countries. His Highness pointed out that it embodies the UAE’s approach to continuing to build sustainable development partnerships that contribute to achieving the common interests of the peoples and creating new opportunities for future generations.
His Highness pointed out that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements Program continues to expand the network of the UAE’s trade partners around the world, based on the country’s awareness that constructive international cooperation is the path to achieving sustainable development, which is reflected in enhancing the quality of life of communities.
The agreement was signed – during the ceremony that took place at Al Shatea Palace in Abu Dhabi – by His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, and His Excellency Thierry Mencot, Minister of Economy, Finance, Debt and Investment of Gabon.
The agreement aims to enhance bilateral trade flows, expand areas of cooperation between the government and private sectors, and create a platform for building partnerships between the private sector and business communities on both sides, in addition to facilitating investments in a number of vital sectors, including agriculture, logistics services, and renewable energy.
The agreement will contribute to reducing customs duties, removing barriers to trade, and facilitating investment flows, in addition to enhancing cooperation between private sector companies, especially small and medium enterprises, in a way that supports sustainable development and achieves joint economic growth in the long term.
The UAE is an important trading partner of the Republic of Gabon in the Arab region, as the volume of non-oil trade between the two countries in 2025 reached about 320.7 million US dollars, more than double the value of trade exchange recorded in 2021.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Gabon is consistent with the UAE’s efforts to expand its trade and investment relations in the African continent, and to benefit from the promising opportunities provided by the continent to achieve sustainable economic growth and diversification.
The volume of non-oil trade between the UAE and African countries combined during the year 2024 reached about 112 billion US dollars, recording a growth of 34% compared to the previous year, while the country is the largest source of new foreign direct investment in Africa, with total investments exceeding 110 billion US dollars since 2019.
His Highness the Head of State and the President of Gabon also witnessed the announcement of a number of memorandums of understanding regarding cooperation in defense fields, the establishment of a joint Emirati-Gabonese business council, and cooperation between the General Women’s Union and the Ministry of Social Affairs in Gabon regarding the women’s empowerment program.
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