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[the CEMAC Investment Charter, adopted in 1999, reaffirms the commitment of the States to create a business friendly environment (...) In the Charter, States undertook to grant foreign investment the same treatment as domestic investment. (...) As a result, national investment charters have been drawn up in all Member States, in particular Cameroon (2002), CAR (2018), Congo (2003), Chad (2008) and Gabon (1998).]
3.33. The same is true of the sectoral investment codes that all the Member States have adopted to promote the judicious exploitation of these sectors, for which they have more or less abundant resources. These include the mining, oil, gas, forestry, hydrocarbons, environment, fisheries and aquaculture, and water codes.

2.9. Imports of goods into the CEMAC area are free, with the exception of gold and other goods subject to specific regulations for reasons of public morality, public order, public safety, the protection of human or animal life or health, the preservation of plants, (...)

3.49. The Regional Quality Policy (PQR) provides a common framework for the technical regulations described below that is supported by appropriate structures for cooperation on TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade). The implementation of the framework aims to promote:
(...)
• creativity and innovation, the development of trade in products and services covered by intellectual property rights, the promotion of sustainable development and consumer protection; (...)

3.72. With a view to the establishment of the common market, there are plans to eliminate quantitative restrictions and taxes and measures with equivalent effect that could affect intra Community trade. Countries undertake not to introduce new restrictions, taxes or measures with equivalent effect other than "for reasons of public morality, public order, public safety, protection of human or animal life or health, plant conservation, protection of the cultural, historical or archaeological heritage, and protection of intellectual property" (Articles 13 and 16 of the CEAU Convention).

3.101. Three CEMAC countries (Cameroon, CAR, Congo) have finalized Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) within the framework of the European FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) initiative. In the case of Gabon, the process is in its final stage. Indeed, on 23 September 2010, Gabon officially opened negotiations with the EU. These negotiations were suspended in July 2012 and relaunched in 2019 but did not result in the finalization of the FLEGT Agreement. Economic operators have therefore focused on certifying the legal origin of timber (legality certification) and sustainable forest management (sustainability certification). This has enabled them to penetrate not only the European market but also other international markets.

3.118. COMIFAC (Central African Forest Commission), established in 2005 within the ECCAS framework, is the body responsible for formulating, harmonizing and monitoring forestry and environmental policies in Central Africa. Within this framework, several measures have been adopted, in particular: a convergence plan defining the priority measures to be taken with a view to harmonizing national forestry and fiscal policies; a subregional convention on forest control and the repression of illicit activities; and a system for collecting, processing and sharing forestry information.

4.9. The Community is facing market access restrictions imposed by some of its trading partners, such as the EU regulation on deforestation, which is likely to hamper community exports of key products such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil and cattle. It is therefore necessary to maintain a dialogue with the various partners concerned.

4.27. (...) 3. The Afro American University of Central Africa (AAUCA) in Djibloho, Equatorial Guinea. This institution, which has been designated a community centre of excellence, offers training in the areas of mining and the environment, climate change and the environment, metallurgy, health and social sciences and education. Through this trans disciplinary and professionalized approach to training, the aim is to train a critical mass of experts with the motivation and ability to develop an endogenous ecosystem of skills adapted to market needs, built around clusters of innovative companies.

4.33. The projects under CEMAC's second priority integration projects programme focus on (...) economic diversification to densify the production base, protect the environment and promote inclusive growth and development (Axis 4).

3.59. In Gabon, Law No. 040/2018 of 28 December 2018 provides for the rational management and use of plant protection products and lays down a related legal framework. (...) the pesticides and hazardous chemicals listed in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention, together with most of the persistent organic pollutants in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention, remain banned from import for agricultural purposes.