Gabon is faced with declining oil production, which has been the backbone of its economy since it gained independence. In this context, the country is faced with a two-fold challenge: to create a diverse economic fabric that will rely on the development of natural resources, and the integration of the relatively young population into employment. Gabon aspires to become an emerging country by 2035. This ambition has driven the government to significantly increase public investment in 2010 and 2011, and this policy is likely to continue over the next two years. Gabon’s strategy also encourages domestic and foreign private investment through the special economic zones (SEZs).