By Andrew Allimadi, 31 March 2006

The trade and regional integration division (TRID) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), in collaboration with the ECA Central Africa SRO conducted a technical assistance mission to Libreville, Gabon from 27 – 30 March at the request of the Gabonese Development Bank (BGD). Mr. Nassim Oulmane, Mr Emanuel Louzet, Mr Rémi Lang and Mr. Abdoul Kane from ECA’s sub-regional office in Yaoundé, Cameroon, undertook the mission.

The purpose of the mission was to train Gabonese officials and Academics on the use of economic techniques of assessing the impacts of trade agreements on their economy; and to finalize the terms of reference for a study assessing the possible impact of an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union on Gabon.

The training, conducted in the Applied Economics Laboratory (LEA) of the University Omar Bongo Ondiba, introduced government officials and trade researchers to the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) software and the WITS/Smart partial equilibrium model developed by the World Bank and UNCTAD. Twelve participants from the BGD, LEA, Ministry of Trade and the Gabonese chamber of commerce attended. Participants were provided with a copy of the software and they were able to discover the various simulation opportunities as well as trade and tariffs data extraction possibilities. They were also able to get some practical experience through case studies.

Regarding the terms of reference, it was agreed that the BGD, the LEA and ECA would conduct the study jointly within a period of three months in order to meet the economic partnership agreements and World Trade Organization negotiations’ calendars. The mission was also able to contribute to the mainstreaming of trade in Gabon through the reinforcement of communication and collaboration opportunities between the BGD and local research centers.

Background
Gabon is currently engaged within the Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) group of countries in trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) through the framework of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. These negotiations may lead to an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU by January 2008, which will be the new cooperative framework based on partnership, trade and political dialogue. In order to assess the impacts of this free trade agreement with the EU on its national economy, the Gabonese Development Bank requested ECA for some Trade Related Technical Assistance on impact studies.