PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC SECRETARIAT GENERAL OFFICE IN CHARGE OF SETTING UP THE MANDJI ISLAND FREE

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PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC ------------------
SECRETARIAT GENERAL------------------ OFFICE
IN CHARGE OF SETTING UP THE MANDJI ISLAND FREE
ZONE ----------------

• THE MANDJI ISLAND FREE ZONE

December 2008
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Introduction 
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The Mandji Island Free Zone is a project
initiated under the directives of His Excellency
EL HADJ OMAR BONGO ONDIMBA, who, since many
years, is looking forwards to refund the basis of
Gabonese economy. The first targets of this
initiative are set up on the following major
axis 

• The diversification of Gabonese economy
• The stimulation of investments
• New jobs opportunity

The law N10/2000 setting up and organizing the
Mandji Island Free Zone is talking about all the
administrative, legal and taxe laws layout so
that this initiative can really take place . An
office , under the leading of the Presidency of
the Gabonese Republic, regrouping differents
experts of the state, is in charge of setting up
and managing the project.
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The advantages of the Free Zone Project
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• The political stability of the Gabonese Republic.
• Good level of equipements and telecomunications
• Banking services well developped
• Central geographic and strategic position for
  Africa
• Privileged economical position
• - wealth of its waters
• - wealth of its soils (Forest- Ecotourism)
• - wealth of its undergroung (oil, Manganese,
  iron, gold, Diamond)
• In mid-term, possibility of having an oil rig for
  activities including all the countries of the
  Guinea Bay such as Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea,
  Congo Brazzaville, Angola.

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The historical and geomorphological advantages of
the Mandji Island

• Peninsula of 50 km long and 5 km wide.
• Easily reached by air, martime and river ways.
• Area including the city of Port-Gentil, Gabonese
  economic capital city with almost 100.000
  population.
• An industrial tradition already exists due to the
  developpement of the oil field(branch) and wood
  transformation(OKOUME).
• The free zone space is almost 2000ha divided on 7
  different plots near to the airport, port or
  potentially port areas with more than 20m draught
  for the project developpment.

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The Prince Bay A very suitable area for a deep
water port establishment

• areas of  Pointe Chapuis  and  Djolowé 
  situated in the Prince Bay present
  geomorphological advantages for establishment of
  oil ports and other industries.
• very suitable Bathymetry
• marine funds exceeding 20m depth
• stability of hydrodinamic elements.

Pointe Chapuis
Terminal du Cap Lopez
Pointe Djolowé
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The innerland of Pointe Djolowe is very suitable
for industries such as refinery or Methan
terminal.

• surface of the plot (F) estimated at 900ha
• coasts for conventional basis adjustments and
  viabilisation are limited.

An example of gas harbour terminal.
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Chosen activities 
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According to the law 10/2000 and the last
reflexions carried out by the project experts,
the leading sectors of the free zone are listed
as follows

• Oil industries.
• Wood industries (1st , 2nd, 3rd et 4th
  processing).
• Sea and river ressources production and
  processing.
• Storage activities, products assembly and
  products supply.
• New technology activities and services.

The mid-term objectives on the basis of leading
sectors to be reached within the first five years
of the project are - a level of 10 to 15.000
direct jobs created.
- a global annual
turover between 300 and 400 billions FCFA.
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Taxes exemption 
The exempted advantages planned by the law
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The decree promulgated by the President of the
Republic is giving so many advantages such as

• Exemption of taxes and duties during the first
  ten years as well as registration fees and stamp
  duties. From the 11th year of operation,the
  companies will be subject to a tax benefit set up
  to 10.
• Fiscal incitement to investment and employment.
• Taxes on physical personne income reduced.

However , the percentage of non-gabonese workers
by any company admitted in the Mandji Island Free
Zone should not exceed 5 after five years of
existence.
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On the trade plan 
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• No price control is applicable to products and
  services provided by companies established in the
  free zone.
• Imports and exports are not subject to any
  license. Possibility of selling part of the
  products in the gabonese market .
• Free financial transfers

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On the custom plan
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• Any import or export is exempted from taxes and
  duties.
• Exemption of taxes and duties to export of all
  products from Gabon and intended to enterprises
  in the free zone.
• Therefore, only new activities, giving job
  opportunities and turned to export are prior to
  obtain working permit in the free zone.

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The Managing Authority (Mandji Island Company
SIM S.A)
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Institutional organization 

• The free zone management is handled by a private
  structure named  The Managing Authority  in
  which the state holds 20 of the capital and the
  private investors hold 80 .
• The managing authority is mandated to
• Adjust the land, promote and manage it
• Give its opinion on the applications of new
  companies
• The companies established in the free zone will
  share 55 of the capital of the Managing Autority.

The administrative authority The administrative
authority is mandated for observance of
taxes,customs, police(security),labor and health
regulations provided for in the law 10/2000.
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The technical partner 
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The technical partner must be a company whose
experience in developping, promoting, managing
administratively and financially a free zone is
well known.

• The Gabonese state, on the basis of an
  international bid tender, is looking for a
  technical partner who has experience and well
  known expertise in developping and managing a
  free zone.
• According to the law, the technical partner will
  take 20 of the capital of the Managigng
  Authority and contribute as well as the Gabonese
  state to look for financial investment for all
  the basis works of infrastructures.
• The choice of the technical partner will
  accelerate the project to start on the basis of a
  previsionnal calendar established as follows

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Project calendar and realizations process
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From January 2009 to August 2009

• Studies on Environmental Impact (EIE)
• Topography and bathimetry work in the priority
  zone (Pointe Chapuis et Djolowé)  almost 700 to
  900 ha of surface.

• summary project (APS)
• detailled project (APD)
• social and environmental managing plan
• establishment of industries and social
  srtucture models
• inauguration of the basis infrastucture works
  by the President of the Republic, Head of state.

From September 2009 to May 2012 

• setting up of the Managing and Administrative
  Authority
• realization of basis works
• implantation of companies after acceptance of
  the Managigng Authority

June 2012 

• Inauguration of the first phase of the Mandji
  Island free zone by the Président of the Républic

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The Mandji Island Free Zone Project is open to
the entiere world
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• working in coordination with the Office in
  charge of the setting up of the zone and the
  technical partner, the project is looking for
• Some partnerships on its strategical centers of
  interest
• Products and oil services
• Wood industries
• Production, storage and fish processing
• Production of energy and water
• Promoting property companies
• Companies which have international developpment
  strategy towards export
• Products and electronic componements
• Storage and processing
• Boat construction
• Treatment of informations from distance.

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Thank you very much for your visit!