Strengthening bilateral ties for infrastructural growth
During a strategic working visit to Dakar, Senegal, the Gabonese Minister of State for Transport, Marine Marchand, and Logistics, Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, held high-level talks with his Senegalese counterpart, Abdoul Ahad Ndiaye. The discussions centered on upgrading infrastructure and building robust bilateral partnerships, aiming to facilitate a seamless transfer of expertise between Libreville and Dakar.
Gabon is actively seeking to emulate Senegal’s successful structural frameworks to revamp its own domestic networks. Reflecting on the bilateral exchange, the Minister of State noted that the discussions with the Senegalese teams spanned various facets of both land and air transport. Senegal, recognized for its efficient management of the Blaise Diagne International Airport alongside its expanding road and railway networks, serves as an exemplary model for the Gabonese authorities.
Harmonising regulations and technical standards
The bilateral talks also focused on aligning regulatory and safety frameworks to meet international benchmarks while ensuring smooth operational flows. Key areas of collaboration include sharing technical expertise, enhancing airport security, and training specialized personnel within the sector.
By leveraging Senegal’s proven achievements, Gabon plans to expedite the upgrading of its facilities, streamline national traffic management, and reform public transit. This initiative aims to revitalize a sector that is in clear need of a modernizing boost. Furthermore, the Gabonese government representative indicated that this cooperative learning process includes strategic planning for logistics infrastructure and multimodality. The objective is to establish better synergy between land networks and air connections, helping to unlock remote regions and optimize the movement of people and goods, with Dakar serving as a primary blueprint for Libreville.
Fostering South-South cooperation for economic integration
Beyond technical alignments, this partnership underscores a shared commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation. Both nations view the transport sector as a vital economic engine, crucial for boosting trade, enhancing regional integration, and driving sustainable growth across the continent.