Gabon's digital transformation policy provides for the construction and creation of several digital entities and infrastructures. The plan has attracted several players that are already making proposals to support the country in its implementation.
On Thursday, June 22, Gabon's digital minister Jean Pierre Doukaga Kassa granted an audience to representatives of Chinese company China Investment Holding. The team, led by Donghu Liu, the company's General Manager for Africa, expressed interest in working with the Gabonese government on a number of digital projects.
The Chinese business leader offered his company’s support in segments like "smart forest management (reforestation, remote sensing, and satellite management), the creation of an intelligent forest industry park (digital management)," the ministry in charge of the digital economy reported on social networks.
The group also expressed its interest in establishing a win-win partnership for the launch of a satellite and the construction of a precise proprietary-based ground station that would be so precise that the whole territory will be covered with radio, television, Internet, and electronic communications networks.
The Chinese company's interest comes in the wake of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba's visit to China, during which he called on members of the government to strengthen business relations between Libreville and Beijing. It also comes at a time when Gabon is working to further develop its digital sector to greatly facilitate the transformation of its economy. Since 2009, through the Plan Stratégique Gabon Emergent (PSGE), the government is working to make Gabon a reference in the African digital sector by 2025.
Responding to requests from his visitors, the Minister for the Digital Economy announced that the "smart forest" projects are already being carried out by Gabon’s space agency AGEOS. He then instructed officials to pursue technical exchanges with the partner.
China Investment Holding is active in two main digital fields: satellite communications and drone analytics solutions for natural resource management.
Samira Njoya
