Equatorial Guinea's Ambassador to the United States discusses development in Equatorial Guinea

In an interview, Equatorial Guinea's Ambassador to the United States, Ruben Maye Nsue Mangue, discusses his country's development over the years. He focuses specifically on how the nation has expanded its economy, infrastructure and human resources.

While talking about the country’s development, Nsue Mangue said, “The only export we were producing in 1960, 70, including 80, was only cocoa and coffee and timber. In 1992, we discovered oil and since 1992, we have been exporting our petroleum and gas and our economy has been expanded.”

Ambassador Nsue Mangue talked about Equatorial Guinea’s infrastructure development. “We have developed infrastructure, we have built hospitals, education institution centers. We have built roads across the country.”

He concluded by discussing the country’s social development, “Our country also has developed human resources by providing scholarships to our students to the United States and to other many countries.”

 

Equatorial Guinea's Ambassador to the United States discusses relations with the United States

In an interview, Equatorial Guinea's Ambassador to the United States, Ruben Maye Nsue Mangue, discussed his country's relationship with the U.S. and how that relationship has matured and deepened in recent years. 

Development and investment, he said, are two important focal points for the relationship. “In our relations, the most important issue is development, but development in different aspects. Development in political terms of the Government of Equatorial Guinea and the United States, they have a permanent dialogue about our democratic process,” noted Nsue Mangue. 

He continued to say, “Our governments are also discussing issues related to the improvement of the investment climate, so that American companies not only from oil and gas but from other sectors like agriculture, tourism, can invest in Equatorial Guinea.”

He concluded by saying, “I think what is most important is that we can talk about any issue because we are open. We are a small country and the U.S. is a country with the most experience and we are very optimistic about the future of our relations and cooperation.”

 

Equatorial Guinea Visits Paris for Summit on Peace and Security in Africa

President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo from Equatorial Guinea attended the Elysee Summit for Peace and Security in Africa, which focused on issues surrounding security, development, and economic partnerships within the region. The summit was held on December 6th and 7^th.

In light of recent events, African leaders commemorated the death of Nelson Mandela and agreed to engage in military intervention to stop the escalation of violence in the Central African Republic.

President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo along with fifty-three other delegates from African countries and France, and various representatives from the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and African Development Bank.

President Obiang had a personal meeting with President Alpha Condé of Guinea Conakry in Paris. The two discussed relations between the countries and the possibility of joint oil and resource ventures. President Obiang also spoke with the Ikililou Dhoinine, the President of the Union of Comoros, and is now expected to make a visit to President Dhoinine in Moroni, Comoros.

Overall, the delegates expressed their commitment to security and human rights, and France pledged to help the African Union achieve full capacity of the African Standby Force and the Rapid Deployment Capability. Leaders of the African countries in attendance gave their approval for French military intervention in the Central African Republic.

The outcome of the summit initiated an important dialogue between Africa and France. The discussions that took place have helped create a greater understanding of the current threats affecting African nations.

President of Equatorial Guinea Meets with Nobel Prize Winner Luc Montagnier

President Obiang of Equatorial Guinea met with Nobel Prize Winner Luc Montagnier on November 26, after the two met at the inauguration of the Center of Francophonie in Bata.

President Obiang discussed health issues with the French virologist, professor and doctor who led the first team that discovered the AIDS virus in 1983. In addition, they also talked about the “Leopold Sedar Senghor” Center of Francophonie, which officially opened last Tuesday.

Equatorial Guinea National University to partner with Texas Tech University

Rector D. Carlos Nze Nsuga, from the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE), recently signed an agreement with Texas Tech University (TTU) to establish a future collaboration between the two universities.

Photo from Texas Tech Today

Following the meeting, Rector Nze Nsuga said, “We are confident that the agreement we have signed will allow our young university to lay the foundation, better organize and strengthen the research capability of UNGE in agriculture and other sectors contributing to socio-economic development of the country, with the establishment of laboratories and training of qualified human resources capable of overcoming the technological challenges that impede the diversification of the sources of economic growth by 2020.”

The cooperation between the National University of Equatorial Guinea and Texas Tech University will foster the development and exchange of publications, data and other materials; share information regarding the scientific meetings and seminars that each university organizes, share documents and publications resulting from those activities.

D. Sunday Mba Esono, Consul General in Houston said that, “We appreciate the fast and effective interaction observed between the two institutions to reach an agreement of transcendental importance to both Universities and countries.” He continued to say, “We must all understand that the relations of friendship, mutual trust and cooperation existing between Equatorial Guinea and the United States, alluded by President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo during the Forum in Houston in June 2012, can be beneficial for the exploration and production of oil and gas, as well as other development sectors, because of the atmosphere of stability and peaceful coexistence advocated by our government to ensure the future development of Equatorial Guinea.”

The agreement also encourages student exchange programs. It aims to foster the participation of teachers, researchers and students in courses, seminars or conferences to be organized in each institution; support temporary exchanges of students, provided they meet the requirements; develop research projects, preferably joint ones, involving researchers from both institutions; support joint participation on international inter-university cooperation programs; support cultural and sports exchanges between the two institutions; support the groundwork and training for doctoral theses.

“This agreement presents Texas Tech with excellent opportunities for our university to partner with Equatorial Guinea’s National University,” said M. Duane Nellis in a recent release. “We look forward to a productive collaboration that will undoubtedly benefit both institutions in various ways.”

Following the agreement, UNGE will make a formal invitation to Texas Tech scholars and teachers to visit Equatorial Guinea to become familiar with UNGE’s capabilities in agribusiness in order to define the specific needs of cooperation.

UNGE will also invite a TTU professor to teach courses within TTU’s Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program in Malabo. Regarding sports, UNGE will send staff to TTU to learn the management of sports facilities. On the administrative management curriculum, UNGE plans to send staff to TTU to learn from their expertise in this area. Student exchange programs have been a high priority to UNGE’s curriculum and they plan to send their students to TTU for Post-graduate programs.

Vice Provost for International Affairs Tibor Nagy, who was also present at the meeting, said “Equatorial Guinea is an emerging energy power in Sub-Saharan Africa, having quickly risen in several years to become Africa’s third-largest producer of oil. Equatorial Guinea is seeking to develop its infrastructure and human capital as well as diversify its economy.”

“The country is seeking U.S. partners for developing its engineering, agricultural and tourism-related sectors,” said Nagy. “This is a perfect match for Texas Tech.”