• Local production lags; country imports over 80,000 tons of chicken annually
• New projects with Algeria, Turkey to boost domestic poultry capacity and jobs
  

The government of Gabon has launched a training program for 40,000 workers in the poultry industry, the local media outlet L’Union reported on Tuesday, November 11. The initiative covers every segment of the value chain, including poultry feed production, the production and sale of day-old chicks, broiler farming, and slaughtering and processing.

The program is part of the authorities’ effort to build capacity across the industry and support the sector’s growth. On May 30, the Council of Ministers approved a ban on broiler chicken imports starting January 1, 2027, in an effort to stimulate domestic production.

FAO data highlights the scale of the gap the government hopes to close. Between 2019 and 2023, Gabon imported an average of nearly 84,912 tons of poultry meat each year, while local production averaged only 4,122 tons over the same period.

New Industrial Projects Fueling Demand for Skilled Labor

The launch of the training program comes as new large-scale industrial projects are being rolled out, creating strong demand for skilled workers.

On October 31, the government signed an agreement with Algeria’s Groupe Graine International to build seven poultry farms, a hatchery, and an industrial abattoir. The complex is expected to produce more than 72,000 tons of chicken meat per year by 2027. According to Eco Matin, the total investment for the project amounts to 47 billion CFA francs, or about 83 million dollars.

Earlier, on October 7, the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Turkey’s Hakan Kiran to establish a broiler chicken production facility that will also manufacture the required feed.

Stéphanas Assocle