16 June 2013, Sweetcrude/African Press Organization, APO, LIBREVILLE, Gabon — Important contracts in education, audiovisual sector, infrastructure and agriculture were signed in the presence of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba at the occasion of the NYFA 2013 (http://www.ny-forum-africa.com). A strategic agreement in the energy sector is to be concluded before the end of the Forum. Promoting Foreign Investments and job creations for Africans, one of the top priorities of the NYFA 2013 has been achieved. The strategic agreement in the sector energy and the four contacts in key Gabonese economic sectors were concluded by Gabon and international companies.
Richard Attias, organizer and founder of the New York Forum welcomed the signature of those major contracts for Africa. « The NYFA is a call for action with extremely concrete results. We’ve committed to this at the creation of the event. Today we have the pleasure to witness contract signatures that will spur job creations. », he said.
Creating an energy hub for the entire Atlantic coast of Africa
A strategic agreement in the energy sector is to be concluded before the end of the Forum. The Gabonese Republic and Gunvor, major Swiss oil trader will agree on development project for Oil Refining and oil products transformation. The aim is to create in Port Gentil, Gabon, a trading hub for oil products for the entire Atlantic coast of Africa. The first step of the project will be the creation of a joint venture set up to commercialized oil products in Gabon. The capital of the company will amount to a million dollars owned 55% by the Gabonese government and 45% by Gunvor.
To start activities probably by September 2013, Gunvor will bring $ 500 million of working capital as a loan.
Education: Three major schools to accommodate 1800 students by 2016
Further to the negotiations started in June 2012, a three-year contract for the construction and equipment of three professional training centers in different industrial areas was formalized between AVIC (China Aviation Industry Corporation) International Holding Corporation and the Gabonese Ministry for Education. Those schools will each propose 10 educational tracks and would spur job creation in Gabon especially thanks to the three-year retraining plan that would be established. Gabonese professors are to be trained three years in China. Chinese bank, Eximbank, will finance the program.
Located in Libreville, Franceville and Port-Gentil, each school, fully equipped (educational and technological items, appliances and furniture) could accommodate until 600 students onsite. The money invested for each school account for $34 million.
Libreville Port Mole’s Harbor to be developed
The project signed today between China Harbor Engineering and the National Agency for Major Works (ANGT) will launch the transformation, expansion and development of the Port Mole in Libreville. The contract in 6 parts (ANGT – National Agency for Major Works, Ministry of Infrastructure, the Budget Department, General Directorate of Procurement, Public Treasury, and China Harbor Engineering) is estimated at $120 million. Initially, in a 45 hectares area will be built a conference center, a museum, offices, shops and hotels. In a second phase the redevelopment of Triumphal Boulevard will be launched.
Founded in 2010, ANGT is a government agency whose mission is to support the Gabonese Republic in the planning and identification of major infrastructure projects classified as priority. These projects are organized by the National Infrastructure Master Plan (NIDS), which sets the guidelines, identify critical infrastructure and plans for the development of key economic sectors Gabon: energy, industry, services, tourism, mining, agriculture, transport, housing, health and education. The ANGT also provides control and enforcement.
Agriculture
To encourage sustainable agricultural development in Gabon, the signing of a contract between the ministries for Agriculture, represented by the Minister Julien Nkoghe Bekale and Valliance Consulting was formalized. Vallliance Consulting has participated in the development of Morocco’s Green Plan.
Access to broadcasting in rural areas
The signing of a contract between IG Telecom, Gabonese company Canal + Africa and contribute to development in rural areas access to a bunch of 100 TV channels via the Internet. The aim is to equip 3,000 homes by 2-3 year.