Gabon’s top diplomat here underscored efforts in preserving his country’s vast rainforest, as well as bilateral ties, during a 54th Gabonese National Day celebration in Seoul on Tuesday.

“Gabon is located in the center of Africa and 85 percent of its territory is tropical rainforest. This is a country of long-lasting peace and political stability. Gabon is working toward economic diversification while maintaining sustainable development,” said Gabonese Ambassador to South Korea Carlos Victor Boungou at Tuesday’s reception.

While diplomatic relations between Korea and Gabon are extremely shallow, the country is one of the first in Africa to link up two-way ties with South Korea. The two established bilateral diplomatic relations on Oct. 1, 1962.

Boungou touted his country’s successful economic growth while preserving its vast rainforests. Gabon set aside 10 percent of its territory in an ambitious national park system launched in 2002, he said.

Choi Sung-joo, ambassador for international security affairs, praised the efforts: “Indeed, Gabon has accomplished rapid economic growth of 5 to 6 percent annually while also promoting democracy, reform and peace.”

Gabonese GDP in 2013 was 5.5 percent, and growth is projected at 6.7 this year and 7.2 in 2015, with an annual inflation rate of about 2.5 percent, according to the African Development Bank.

Gabon is one of the wealthiest nations in sub-Saharan Africa with gross national income per capita of $13,500, because of its productive oil sector. The country is on a program of economic diversification now.

Former President Lee Myung-Bak met Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, the son of Omar Bongo, who ran the country for 41 years, in Seoul in March 2012.

In July 2012, Samsung C&T signed an MOU to build Gabon’s largest oil and gas refinery in the Mandji Island economic zone in Port-Gentil, located on the Atlantic coast and the country’s second-largest city. In June 2013, also in Seoul, Gabonese Foreign Minister Issze-Ngondet and Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se met to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation and global issues.

Earlier this year, Armand Clotaire Lichambany, general manager in charge of digital economy at the nation’s Ministry of Digital Economy, Communication and Postal Services, announced that Gabon is currently building a broadband network based out of Mandji. The ICT hub will be the largest in Central Africa, but as yet no Korean participation in this plan has been announced.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)