Egypt and Gabon: New prospects for cooperation

The visit of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to Gabon is the first ever of an Egyptian president to the African country since Egypt and Gabon established diplomatic relations in 1975. In December 1973, late president of Gabon Omar Bongo visited Egypt, a step that was followed by the opening of the Egyptian Embassy in Libreville, the capital city of Gabon.

According to a report made by Egypt’s State Information Service, Egypt and Gabon pay heed to deepening their bilateral relationship given some basic factors: Gabon is a key player in the region of central Africa, particularly as the country enjoys political stability. This is of strategic importance to Egypt, as Gabon is a connection spot between Egypt and African countries in that region. Also, there is a mutual need for Egypt and Gabon to cooperate in security fields and the combat of terrorism, lay down joint vision and coordinate stances towards solving problems that face Africa in general, and the region of central Africa in particular.

Natural resources as oil, timber and minerals are found abundantly in Gabon; however, opening new prospects for investment between the Egyptian and Gabonese sides. In addition, Gabon chairs the economic group of the region of central Africa, giving it an additional economic importance to Egypt.
In its report, State Information Service highlights the exchange of visits between Egyptian and Gabonese sides as follows:

- On February 18, 2016, President Ali Bongo of Gabon visited Egypt and met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. Talks focused on means of boosting relationship between the two countries in different spheres. The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of common interest and the two countries signed a number of agreements with a special focus on educational and health sectors.
- On January 19, 2016, First Deputy of the Prime Minister of Gabon for Health Paul Biyoghé Mba visited Egypt and met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. He also met with Egyptian ministers of health and social solidarity and paid visits to a number of hospitals and pharmaceutical factories in Egypt.
- On November 11, 2015, Foreign Minister of Gabon Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet visited Egypt and met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, where they discussed latest developments on regional and international arenas.

On health and education, the State Information Service’s report said Egypt and Gabon signed an executive protocol for cultural and technical cooperation for the period of 2016-2018. The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of vocational education. In addition, Egypt provides scholarships for the students of Gabon in Al-Azhar in different fields of study. Egypt also dispatched 65 teachers to Gabon to teach the Arabic language and sciences. On April 19, 2017, Egypt laid down the cornerstone of the Orthodox Coptic Church in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, the first of its kind in the region of central Africa.

In the field of security cooperation, Egypt provided training courses for the Gabonese side on the combat of terrorism, systemic crime, prevention of conflict and peacekeeping.
On economic and medical cooperation between Egypt and Gabon, State Information Service said that the two countries worked on beefing up the volume of trade, as President of Gabon Ali Bongo met in his visit to
Egypt in 2016 with representatives of Egyptian companies, including the Arab Contractors, and businessmen to discuss joint cooperation in the field of construction and food industries.

Medical cooperation remains one of the most importance aspects of cooperation between Egypt and Gabon, according to the State Information Service’s report. The Egyptian-Gabonese hospital was operational 10 years ago in Gabon, and many Egyptian doctors work there; Egypt also provides training for Gabonese nurses and health professionals. Moreover, Egyptian exports to Gabon include public transportation buses, glass, cookware, electrical devices, among others, while Gabonese imports to Egypt include iron and steel products.

Source : Mena