President Obiang Seeks Support From United Nations to Boost Agriculture Development in Equatorial Guinea

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of Equatorial Guinea's (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) efforts to boost development of the agricultural sector in the country, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo met with the Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jack Diuof, and the Representative of the Permanent Mission of Equatorial Guinea for this Organization, Crisantos Obama Ondo, to review cooperation relations between the two parties, at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

During the meeting, President Obiang stressed how important it is for the national productive sector to guarantee sustainable development and for the FAO to continue providing technical support for the government.

In a discussion with the FAO Director-General, President Obiang agreed to short, middle and long term priorities and reinforced the need to increase technical capacity and increase support for the farmers so that their productive activity is more profitable, both socially and economically. The two also discussed the need to reformulate the National Plan for Food Security, and the FAO Director-General agreed and expressed the institution's availability to support the Equatorial Guinean government in this process. The same support would be given to conduct an inventory of marine resources in Equatorial Guinea, as well as for the Ministry of Promotion of Women, through the Pramur project.

Equatorial Guinea has fertile soil and a tropical climate, which are conducive to high yield agriculture. The Minister of Agriculture, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, has led the efforts to conduct awareness tours, promote coffee and cacao, and focus on attaining food self-sufficiency in the country in order to support and improve the agriculture sector. The Ministry of Agriculture has reached out to international allies to help boost the sector. Ghana has agreed to provide assistance on the production of cocoa. The government has also sought help from China.

As the backbone of many African economies, agriculture is at the forefront of Equatorial Guinea's efforts to diversify its economy and meet the goals of the government's Horizon 2020 development plan. The country is working to become an emergent and sustainable economy by 2020.

During his stay in Italy, President Obiang also had the opportunity to meet with the Ambassador for the Republic of Congo, Kamara Dekamo and strengthen relations between the two countries. The minister in charge of missions, Alejandro Evuna Owono, and the civil cabinet representative, Braulio Ncogo were also present at the meetings.

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.

This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. More information on this relationship is on file at the United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea