Our World See This Report at Worldfolio.Co.Uk Thursday, September 27Th, 2012 EQUATORIAL GUINEA a New Horizon
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GUINEA EQUATORIAL USAT 16 pages.qxd 18/9/12 18:40 Page 1 Our World See this report at worldfolio.co.uk Thursday, September 27th, 2012 EQUATORIAL GUINEA A new horizon This supplement to USA TODAY was produced by United World Ltd., Suite 179, 34 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RH – Tel: +44 20 7409 3106 – [email protected] – www.unitedworld-usa.com Gifted with one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest hydrocarbon reserves and boasting a strategic geographical location, Equatorial Guinea has the potential to become the CEMAC region’s energy, maritime, tourism and transshipment hub Equatorial Guinea is emerging as one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. After the discovery of massive reserves in the 1990s, it has become the third-largest producer of oil in sub-Saharan Africa, after Nige- ria and Angola, with annual rev- enues from this sector topping “EQUATORIAL $8 billion, in addition to invest- GUINEA IS A ment now totaling more than COUNTRY THAT $40 billion. The country’s sharp DURING ITS rise in oil exports has contributed SHORT HISTORY to its impressive GDP growth, HAS EXTENDED ITS which averaged 30% annually HAND TO THE for the first decade of the oil pro- UNITED STATES. duction start-up. At over WE NEED TO $19,000, GDP per capita in Equa- WORK TOGETHER torial Guinea now exceeds some ON THE SECURITY European countries. OF THE GULF OF In addition to rising regional GUINEA BECAUSE prominence, this flush economic IT’S VERY scenario has allowed the coun- IMPORTANT TO try to make gigantic strides to- BOTH COUNTRIES. wards its goal of becoming a an GIVEN THE emerging economy by the year CURRENT LEVEL OF 2020. Now fully in progress, Pres- ECONOMIC ident Teodoro Obiang Nguema COOPERATION, Mbasogo’s national economic EQUATORIAL development plan, Horizon GUINEA 2020, aims to speed up Equato- CONSIDERS ITSELF rial Guinea’s development and A FRIEND AND democratization, encompass- ALLY OF ing a range of efforts across the THE U.S.” board from infrastructure in- vestment and government re- form to gender equality and poverty reduction. TEODORO OBIANG NGUEMA A $1 billion Social Develop- MBASOGO, ment Fund has been created to President of the Republic of help support these initiatives. As Equatorial Guinea a sustainable path to reducing poverty and building infra- structure, Horizon 2020 specif- ically targets improvements in healthcare, including access to clean drinking water and prop- er sanitation, and education. Among the various new hos- pitals constructed in the coun- try since the launch of the development plan is La Paz Medical Center in Bata, now one of the most sophisticated hospitals on the African conti- nent. Strides have also been Physical infrastructure devel- country into the international Economic Community of Cen- made in fighting malaria on the opment is a central goal of Hori- spotlight and served to show- tral African States (CEMAC), FACTS & FIGURES island of Bioko through the zon 2020, and investment in case the nation’s progress. Equa- the commencement of both oil Malaria Control Project, which roadways, bridges, public build- torial Guinea is also gearing up and gas production in the coun- has helped reduce child mor- ings, housing and electricity net- to host the seventh African try, and the subsequent creation tality there by a third, far ahead works has been ongoing. Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) of national oil and gas companies of the UN’s Millennium Devel- This summer alone the Pres- Heads of State Summit this year GE Petrol and Sonagas. opment Goals 2015 agenda. ident inaugurated the River from December 10-14, which The President has long been The United Nations’ goals for Wele bridge, the Mbini City provides the opportunity for a strong supporter of close ties literacy and primary education Council, the Bolondo highway leaders from those regions to with the United States, and ac- have also been met ahead of and the Mbini Stadium, while discuss the implications of the tively advocated for the re- schedule. The addition of pre- laying the foundation stones of global economic crisis on mem- opening of the U.S. embassy in school has been one of the coun- the Mbini public market, dis- ber states, ACP cooperation with Malabo in 2006, since which try’s greatest achievements in trict courthouse, police station BRICs, intra-ACP cooperation time the U.S. has become one education over the last few years, and hospital, as well as unveil- and ACP-EU trade relations. of Equatorial Guinea’s largest and educational development ing plans for a new social hous- The success of the 2011 ref- bilateral trading partners. To- and training continue to be top ing sub-division there. The first erendum vote was another day, Equatorial Guinea supplies priorities in the country. Fur- stone was also laid this summer benchmark for the country, roughly 17% of the United States’ thering this investment have for a new highway connecting marking a step forward in its de- natural gas. U.S. investments G Diplomatic G GDP real growth rate been the advances made in Sipolo with Bilen and the Bata- mocratization process – a key alone in Equatorial Guinea to- representation in the U.S. 7.1% (2011 est.) telecommunications, specifically Bome highway, in addition to goal in Horizon 2020. The ap- tal more than $20 billion, and the Ambassador Purificacion in fiber optics connectivity. The the commencement of upgrades proval of new constitutional re- largest foreign companies on Angue Ondoion G Industries capital has been connected since on various existing roadways forms paves the way for the Equatoguinean soil are Amer- Petroleum, natural gas and 2009, and the government an- and the expansion of Bata Port. creation of the post of vice-pres- ican, and include ExxonMobil G Capital sawmilling nounced in May that the Africa Improvements in public in- ident in the country and limits and Marathon Oil. Malabo Coast to Europe (ACE) cable frastructure and hotels also the tenure that the head of state Indeed, President Obiang has G Agriculture will be connected to mainland surged ahead of several events may have at the helm. Other re- often reiterated the importance G Population Coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, Equatorial Guinea by the end of of global relevance hosted by forms designed to contribute to of continued cooperation be- 685,991 (July 2012 est.) cassava (manioc), bananas, this year. Indeed, Equatorial Equatorial Guinea recently, in- more transparent governance tween the two countries. “Equa- palm oil nuts; livestock; Guinea is a founding member of cluding the African Union and improved accountability in- torial Guinea is a country that G Area and timber the ACE Consortium, and the Summit in 2011 and the Africa cluded the creation of new bod- during its short history has ex- 28,051 sq km new fiber optic connection rep- Cup of Nations and the Africa- ies such as the Senate, Council tended its hand to the United G Natural resources resents a quantum leap in the South America Summit earli- of the Republic, National Coun- States. We need to work to- G GDP per capita Petroleum, natural gas, country’s communications. er this year, which launched the cil for Economic and Social De- gether on the security of the (purchasing power parity) timber, gold, bauxite, velopment, Court of Auditors Gulf of Guinea because it’s very $19,600 (2011 est.) diamonds, tantalum, sand and Ombudsman’s Office. important to both countries. and gravel, and clay Since assuming the office of Given the current level of eco- G GDP composition by A UNITED WORLD SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY: President in 1979, Mr. Obiang nomic cooperation, Equatori- seector G Budget surplus has overseen a number of mile- al Guinea considers itself a Agriculture 3.6% 1.7% of GDP (2011 est.) Rafaela Villacieros, Michael Martinez stones including Equatorial friend and ally of the U.S.,” the Industry 89.7% McGough and Lucas D'Agostino Guinea’s membership in the President said. Services 4.3% (2011 est.) Source: CIA World FactBook Our World Insert is produced by United World. USA TODAY did not participate in its preparation and is not responsible for its content GUINEA EQUATORIAL USAT 16 pages.qxd 18/9/12 18:40 Page 2 2 Thursday, September 27th, 2012 EQUATORIAL GUINEA Distributed by USA TODAY Setting sail for Horizon 2020 The umbrella under which the Horizon 2020 capital projects are coordinated, the Horizon Agency is overseeing Equatorial Guinea’s transformation to developed country At the African Union (AU) while acting to strengthen Summit in Malabo in 2011, national human resources former president of Ghana capacities across all eco- John Kufuor said, “Ten years nomic sectors, with a spe- ago, Equatorial Guinea was cial emphasis on promoting ranked amongst the poorest economic autonomy for of the African countries; to- women. day it is ranked very high Also in the social devel- amongst us. The country is opment sphere, the Horizon making strides in all areas; Agency is dedicated to im- Equatorial Guinea is a coun- proving the offer, access and try rapidly evolving.” quality of health services His words underscored the throughout the country and development that has taken oversees the establishment place in the country over the of national housing initia- past few years since Presi- tives in line with the gov- dent Teodoro Obiang Ngue- ernment’s pledge to ma Mbasogo set the Horizon guarantee housing for all. 2020 development plan in Finally, the agency is motion in 2007. tasked with the management Containing many of the of programs aimed at guar- benchmarks set out in the anteeing human rights in the UN Millennium Develop- country. ment Goals, Horizon 2020 In the economic arena, the is a comprehensive eco- Horizon Agency coordinates nomic and social strategy efforts aimed at promoting aimed at moving the coun- agriculture in order to guar- try towards a developed and antee food security, while sustainable economy by working to improve environ- 2020.