Equatorial Guinea Dedicates Public Works to Host Visitors, Provide Drinking Water, Fight Corruption

President Obiang Officially Opens 11 New Facilities

Country Is Ready to Host African Union Summit

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea dedicated 11 new facilities on the island of Bioko on Saturday.  The public works projects were designed to improve infrastructure, help combat corruption, and bring potable water to communities. Some of the projects expanded the city's ability to host visitors and major international events, and were completed in time for the African Union Summit and related meetings, which will take place in Malabo June 26-July 1.  President Obiang is the current rotational chairman of the AU.

The new infrastructure projects include a passenger terminal expansion at Malabo International Airport, which was completed in a record time of six months. The airport is now fully equipped to receive flights from all over the world.

"With these changes the Malabo airport is sufficiently outfitted to accommodate guests who arrive in the country for the African Union Summit," said the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Demetrio Elo Ndong Nsefumu.

Other facilities were dedicated in Malabo II, a newly developed area of the capital, where President Obiang opened the Hotel Iris and two new government facilities, the new Documentation Center and the Palace of Conferences.  President Obiang declared that the Documentation Center will help his government combat the falsification of official documents and reduce corruption, "which has caused us many problems internationally."

Toward the end of a busy day, the President dedicated new potable water systems for the district of Baney and the city of Riaba, a new police camp in Baney, and a new road connecting the cities of Riaba and Moca. The cost of all projects in Baney and Riaba, including the Palace of Conferences, exceeded $44 million (U.S.).

Infrastructure development has been one of the major focuses of the government of Equatorial Guinea.  President Obiang has launched an ambitious program called Horizon 2020, which is aimed at using the nation's revenues to improve health, education, and the economy in the country.  

The administration has made rapid progress in improving and expanding Equatorial Guinea's island and mainland infrastructure. The Annobon airport and trade port, opened last October, are two massive, state-of-the-art infrastructure projects that brought an end to the isolation that used to characterize the island province. The government has also opened two modern hospitals, one in the capital, Malabo, which is located on Bioko Island, and one in the mainland city of Bata.  The Israeli-operated hospitals provide modern medical care and serve as teaching and training centers for Equatorial Guinea's medical professionals and technicians.

About Equatorial Guinea

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country will host the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

Media contact: Matt Lauer, 202-683-3127

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea