On 13-14 November 2024, Gabon’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food hosted a national workshop in Libreville to review and validate Gabon's national strategy for promoting green value chains in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The workshop, organized in collaboration with UNCTAD, brought together 45 participants, including government officials, private sector leaders, researchers, and civil society representatives.

The workshop aimed to refine Gabon’s strategy for promoting sustainable production and trade practices in three priority sectors: non-timber forest products (NTFPs), timber, and palm oil. These sectors were chosen for their significant economic potential and their ability to integrate Gabon into regional and continental trade while addressing critical climate challenges.

Key Conclusions from the validation workshop

• Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs): Strengthening market promotion and value-added processing is vital to unlock Gabon's large potential in sustainable trade in biodiversity-based products.
• Timber: Improving access to financing and transitioning to advanced wood processing are key to boosting competitiveness and sustainability.
• Palm Oil: Expanding certification processes and aligning production with international standards will increase market access and sector growth.

The project for the inclusion of green initiatives into national AfCFTA implementation strategies is a joint initiative led by UNCTAD and UNECA, implemented in twenty countries from all five African sub-regions. Its aim is to assist beneficiary countries in the development of green value chain strategies to promote intra-African trade and climate resilience in the context of the AfCFTA.