Equatorial Guinea Promoting Agricultural Sector

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, April 4, 2011 -- Equatorial Guinea's (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) Minister of State for Agriculture and Forestry, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue met with the Ambassadors of China, Wang Shixiong, and Guinea Conakry, Lansana Keita, to discuss the country's development and further cooperation in the agriculture sector.

In his remarks, Minister Nguema pointed out that 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.

Ambassador Shixiong praised Equatorial Guinea's recent transformation progress and thanked Minister Nguema for the opportunity to contribute to the country's agriculture and construction sectors development. Both parties discussed the possibility of creating extensive farms to expand the agriculture sector. This effort is part of Equatorial Guinea's work to promote development and investment in the agricultural sector.

Ambassador Keita, who has visited several cities of the country, said, "Equatorial Guinean lands are the black gold of Africa," because of the fertility and its excellent climate conditions.

Equatorial Guinea's fertile soil and tropical climate are conducive to high yield agriculture. The country produces a diversity of crops today, including coffee and cacao and other products such as lumber and coconut oil. The country also has extensive coastline and fisheries and untapped mineral resources.

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.