Doing Business in Gabon: Karine Nzang Leading the Charge for UK–Gabon Economic Partnership

By Donovan Martin Sr, Editor in Chief

Gabon is a country often described as one of Africa’s best-kept secrets — rich in natural resources, politically stable, and strategically located on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa. Yet, despite its potential, Gabon remains underexplored by global investors, particularly from the United Kingdom, which accounts for barely 2.6% of Gabon’s import and export activity. That number is now poised for change, thanks to the efforts of Karine Nzang, a Director and Senior Manager in Customs Compliance, Tax, Accounting, and Finance, and one of the continent’s most dynamic economic strategists.

Nzang is currently in Gabon on a mission to reshape the country’s business landscape and open its doors to greater UK investment. Her goal is not simply to attract visitors or promote tourism — it’s to forge enduring business partnerships that create jobs, boost exports, and build long-term economic resilience. “We want British businesses to see Gabon not as a distant market, but as a partner,” she has said in discussions with business leaders.

Her visit focuses on strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and Gabon following Gabon’s historic entry into the Commonwealth of Nations in 2022. While the membership offers an unprecedented gateway to trade, education, and collaboration, Nzang notes that many Gabonese businesses have yet to experience its full benefits. “The Commonwealth is more than a badge of honour,” she says. “It’s an open door — but we must walk through it with preparation and purpose.”

To bridge this gap, Nzang is spearheading initiatives designed to bring UK business leaders to Gabon for structured trade missions — not just for sightseeing or ceremonial events, but with the goal of signing contracts and establishing joint ventures before they return home. These visits are paired with workshops and business matchmaking sessions that connect British investors directly with Gabonese entrepreneurs in key sectors like agriculture, mining, energy, construction, and services.

On the Gabonese side, Nzang is working closely with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to prepare them for international engagement. Many local entrepreneurs, she observes, have strong ideas and valuable products but limited exposure to international business practices. To address this, she provides comprehensive training on business development, customs and compliance, export documentation, and negotiation strategies. A central part of this training emphasizes the importance of learning English, which remains a barrier for many Gabonese entrepreneurs looking to partner with UK firms. “Language is not just communication — it’s connection,” Nzang reminds her trainees.

Her program includes The Guide — a strategic platform that helps Gabonese companies build credibility, gain visibility in the UK market, and establish direct connections with potential investors and buyers. Companies featured in The Guide receive one-on-one coaching, website development, branding support, and introductions to UK manufacturers, financial institutions, and private investors. Nzang’s vision is to create a network where every participating company gains tangible business outcomes, not just exposure.

Crucially, The Guide is not about competition among Gabonese firms but collaboration. Nzang prioritizes partnership over rivalry, ensuring that each company has a defined market focus to avoid overlap and conflict. “When we work together, we grow together,” she explains. Her model aims to ensure that the return on investment for both sides — UK investors and Gabonese enterprises — remains high, sustainable, and mutually beneficial.

Nzang’s work is also supported through Wataalam, an organization whose name means “experts” in Swahili. Wataalam was founded on the belief that Africa’s economic promise has long been undervalued due to misperceptions, lack of information, and outdated trade mechanisms. The organization provides a bridge between African businesses and global investors, helping dismantle barriers to market entry while promoting transparency, capacity-building, and local ownership.

Through Wataalam and her partnerships with Gabon’s business community, Nzang is positioning the country as a gateway for British investment into Central Africa. With a strong foundation of political stability, vast natural resources, and improving infrastructure, Gabon offers opportunities across sectors — from oil and gas to timber, agriculture, logistics, and green energy.

Her approach is pragmatic: attract investors who are ready to build, empower local entrepreneurs to deliver, and create a trade environment based on knowledge, trust, and shared value. “Doing business in Gabon is not about risk,” she insists. “It’s about readiness — readiness to engage, to learn, and to grow with the world.”

As Gabon embraces its new role within the Commonwealth, Karine Nzang’s vision provides a roadmap for the future — one where collaboration replaces isolation, and where doing business in Gabon becomes synonymous with opportunity, transparency, and success. Her mission is not just to connect investors and companies, but to redefine how the world sees Gabon: not as a hidden gem, but as a shining hub of African enterprise ready for global partnership.