Interview with Barthélémy Leboussi, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Gabon in Rabat

When King Mohammed VI treads the soil of Gabon on Wednesday 20 March, lighting diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Gabon, we can not, all interesting points of view. Bartholomew Leboussi, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Gabon in Rabat, leads us into the world that links the two brotherly states, through this exclusive interview.

What is for you the official visit His Majesty King Mohammed VI is making in Gabon on 20 March?

Barthélémy Leboussi: This visit is, no doubt, confirmation of the excellent bilateral relations between our two peoples, our two countries. It is also proof that the close ties by His Majesty Hassan II and the late President Omar Bongo Ondimba went from strength to strength and is consolidated under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Ali Bongo Ondimba .

Diplomatic relations between Morocco and Gabon seem to be in good shape. What is your analysis of this cooperation today?

The word is quite accurate. These relationships do not suffer from any cloud or shadow. And every day that God is on the very high guidelines and recommendations of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, we are working to make them even more dynamic in all aspects: political, cultural, sports, educational and economic.

Exactly what is the current state of trade and economic relations between the two countries?

In the commercial field, there is a growing interest in Moroccan economic operators for the Gabonese market. This allowed Gabon to climb to second place in the Kingdom of Morocco suppliers of Sub Saharan Africa, and the 10th largest customers of Morocco. Gabon, imports from Morocco food, equipment, wires forelectric cables and textiles. In return, Gabon exports to Morocco raw wood and wood prepared for the industry.

These exchanges are the result of several agreements signed between the two countries. Also noteworthy is the renewal in 2009 of an aviation agreement between the two countries, and foundations are being laid for a partnership in the field of air and road transport.

Moroccan investors are also present in Gabon, particularly in the telecommunications sector, with Morocco Telecom, in that related to finance, through Attijariwafa Bank (AWB), as well as in the area of ​​mining with the MANAGEM Group.

In addition, improving the exchange between the two countries is mainly symbolized by the rise of Moroccan exports to Gabon with a rate of 42%. At the same time, Gabon's exports to the Kingdom rose 45%.

What are the major themes of this economic partnership?

These numerous exchanges allowed Gabon to put Morocco in place as a strategic partner for the challenges of diversification of the national economy, the fight against poverty, improvement of infrastructure in the context of a South-South and win win partnership.

We believe in this cooperation and the Gabonese Government spares no effort to reach forward to a relocation of some Moroccan companies whose products are popular in Gabon. In addition to exports, there are three main axes of the Moroccan-Gabonese collaboration.

The first is entitled "Green Gabon" and relates to forestry, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and ecotourism. As to the second axis is mainly industrial and includes mining, oil and gas, energy, timber industry and the food industry. The last axis is relative meanwhile to infrastructure development. That said, the success of this cooperation will come about by development and sharing of know-how.

Is there a Joint Commission between Rabat and Libreville? If yes, what were the recommendations of the last meeting?

We believe that the visit to Libreville by His Majesty Mohammed VI could be the galvanising of the upcoming work of the Mixed Commission between the two countries to study monitoring the implementation of the various agreements and identification of new avenues of cooperation. The last Joint Commission between the two countries was held in Rabat in 2006.

What comments do you do about the situation in the Central African Republic?

Any particular comment. We fit perfectly in the logic adopted by the Heads of State of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), gathered around President Ali Bongo in Libreville, to find a satisfactory solution to the crisis brewing the Central African Republic. We just hope that the resolutions of the Libreville summit will be the beginning of a new economic and social relaunch of the Central African Republic. Gabon, you know, has always been very concerned about peaceful resolutions of the various crises in the subregion of Central Africa, to which it belongs, and more generally, Africa. A legacy of peace and harmony that we have inherited from the late President Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba.

A word about the Gabonese community in Morocco?

It is doing well. Grouped within the Union of Gabonese in Morocco (UGM), it has always tried to live in harmony with our Moroccan brothers in strict compliance with the laws and customs in force throughout the kingdom.

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Sara

Journalist