Keep The Pace

For more than a year now, there has been a new lease of hope among the population with regards to employment. Compared to some years back, most of the youths that make up more than half the population now believe they can make earns meet at home, rather than move abroad for greener pastures. Reasons for the sudden change of attitude emanates from the efforts being made by the Gabonese government to create jobs. After investing extensively in palm plantations that have created several jobs with excess palm oil being exported to neighboring countries, the government has again made it possible for thousands of youths to get jobs in the timber sector by imposing a ban on the exportation of wood in the form of logs. Henceforth, only semi-treated wood is authorized to leave the country. The decision taken fifteen years ago, is aimed at encouraging the industrialization of the timber industry. Today it is not only creating jobs, but contributing in the diversification of the country’s economy. 
The government while still reaping the fallouts from palm plantations and timber has this week embarked on another gigantic move aimed at creating more new jobs. From 2029 the exportation of raw manganese is banned. The move which is part of a national strategy to boost local industry and red...