CFC Engages Gabon on Sustainable Commodity Development
Brussels, 23 October 2025 – The Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Mr. Eude Régis Immongault Tatangani, Ambassador of the Gabonese Republic to the European Union and the Benelux countries.
A central theme of the discussion was the Humanizing Value Chains (HVC) initiative, the CFC’s flagship effort to address structural inequities in global trade by ensuring transparency, equitable income distribution, and inclusive growth. Ambassador Belal noted that the recent endorsement of the initiative by Peru reflects growing international momentum to “humanize” global markets and provide dignity and fairness to producers worldwide.
Ambassador Immongault Tatangani extended a warm welcome and reaffirmed Gabon’s strong commitment to the mandate of the CFC. He commended the Fund’s work in promoting inclusive and sustainable development and highlighted Gabon’s ambition to attract innovation, investment, and technology to enhance productivity and sustainability in its palm oil, rubber, cocoa, and coffee sectors.
The discussion also explored the potential for SME development schemes, aimed at empowering small and medium-sized enterprises across Gabon’s key commodity sectors. Ambassador Belal shared that the CFC could facilitate capacity-building, access to financing, and technical support, enabling SMEs to participate more effectively in regional and global value chains. In addition, Ambassador Belal offered to share the names and details of other member states in Gabon’s constituency, providing a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaborative opportunities.
The meeting further covered the Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund, introduced at the LDC5 Conference and now in the process of becoming operational, for which the CFC encourages member states to participate as anchor investors while engaging the private sector. Ambassador Belal also provided information on other financing windows—including the FCDO Trust Fund and the CAFI External Fund—which broaden the CFC’s reach and allow for faster, more inclusive access to sustainable finance.
In closing, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration in support of smallholders and farmers—the backbone of every sustainable value chain. Ambassador Belal encouraged Gabon to continue its leadership as a global commodity nation, inspiring collective efforts toward fairer, more human-centered trade systems while leveraging its rich commodity base to drive sustainable growth and rural development.
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