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Jean-Guy LARRIVIÈRE
Head of International Desk Africa, Middle East
Jean-Guy LARRIVIÈRE
Head of International Desk Africa, Middle East
Last updated: August 2023
The International Desk for Africa, the Maghreb, and the Middle-East provides support to the Crédit Agricole Group’s business clients in Gabon particularly with opening accounts and providing local financing in FCFA with a privileged bank in Gabon, the Gabonese Union of Bank (UGB) – Attijariwafa Bank group.
General Information
Gabon is a member of the Franc Zone via the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) for which the issuing institute is the Bank of Central African States (BEAC). The CFA or XAF franc is linked to the Euro with a parity fix guaranteed by the French Treasury.
Gabon has important natural resources, particularly in petroleum, of which it is the 5th-largest producer in Africa. Since 2015, the economy which is highly dependent on the petroleum sector, has thus been affected by the drop in petroleum prices but since the summer of 2021 the increase is relaunching certain projects. This year, it should be noted that the country is in an electoral period where Ali BONGO, the current President and greatly reduced since a stroke, will be a candidate for his succession.
Non-petroleum sectors such as the mining sector (manganese), agrifood, and wood will need to occupy a growing position in the country’s economy.
Means of Payment & Banking Specificities
We recommend the use of a confirmed documentary credit payable upon receipt or in a maximum of 60 days.
Payment delays are frequent if transactions have not been secured.
It is recommended to negotiate a deposit if exchange regulations allow it.
The best billing currency for trade remains the Euro.
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