Brice Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic of Gabon, has received Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, during an official visit to discuss deepening economic cooperation between the two nations.
Leading a high-level business delegation to the capital Libreville, Al Zeyoudi also held talks with senior Gabonese officials to identify trade and investment opportunities and facilitate greater private-sector collaboration.
The visit follows the signing earlier this month of the UAE-Gabon Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to accelerate non-oil trade by reducing tariffs, removing barriers to trade and improving market access for services.
The CEPA is also expected to enhance investment flows and create new opportunities for SMEs. In 2025, bilateral non-oil trade reached $320.7 million, more than double the level recorded in 2021, underlining the positive momentum in economic ties in recent years.
During the visit, the UAE delegation met with several Gabonese ministers, including Thierry Minko, Minister of Economy, Sosthène Nguema, Minister of Mines and Geological Resources, Clotaire Kondja, Minister of Petroleum and Gas, Philippe Tonangoye, Minister of Energy, Pacôme Kossy, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Elsa Bivigou, Minister of Health; and Arthur Lemami, Director of the President’s Cabinet.
Discussions highlighted opportunities to advance cooperation in priority sectors such as agriculture, logistics, renewable energy and digital commerce, in line with the UAE’s wider economic diversification strategy and its growing engagement with African markets. Through ongoing collaboration, the UAE aims to reinforce long-term economic connectivity with key partners such as Gabon.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi UAE Minister of Foreign Trade
“The visit to Gabon builds on the progress achieved in our bilateral economic partnership and reflects our shared focus on expanding trade and investment ties. We are strengthening cooperation across priority sectors and reinforcing commercial ties between our two nations. As we have shown with the signing of a CEPA, the UAE is committed to deepening this partnership and advancing long-term collaboration with Gabon.”
The visit concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and translating shared priorities into measurable outcomes. The delegation included representatives from key UAE industries, underscoring commercial interest in Gabon across sectors including agriculture, mining, oil and gas, defense, energy, aviation, health, marine transport and logistics.
