Month: June 2014

30.06.2013

The 23rd African Union (AU) Summit officially closed on Friday following several days of intensive discussions and productive workshops. Speaking at the closing ceremony, the President of Guinea Bissau expressed his thanks to the government of Equatorial Guinea for their hosting and excellent running of the Summit.

The President of Mauritania and new AU President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz also thanked Equatorial Guinea for hosting and used his closing speech to announce that African leaders have agreed to increase investment in agriculture by 10% to boost the continent’s agricultural development.

Thousands of delegates from across Africa attended the Summit, along with representatives from international bodies. Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General, was one of several top international figures in Malabo for the Summit. He was accompanied to Malabo International Airport on Friday by Prime Minister for Administrative Coordination, Vicente Ehate Tomi, UN Resident Coordinator in Equatorial Guinea, Leo Heileman, and Deputy Prime Ministers, Alfonso Nsue Mokuy and Lucas Nguema Esono.

Read more: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5352

http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5350

27.06.2013

Today marks the final day of the 23^rd African Union (AU) Summit, with thousands of representatives from across the world meeting in the Sipopo Conference Centre in Malabo. Agriculture and food security in Africa are the key themes of this year’s Summit, with discussions between heads of state and international representatives continuing.

Speaking at the Summit yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and AU Commission Chair Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma both thanked the government of Equatorial Guinea for its warm welcome of all delegates and the successful organisation of the Summit.

As part of his diplomatic meetings at the Summit, President Obiang met yesterday with the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Brey. Accompanied by the Spanish Director of Foreign Affairs for Africa, Manuel Gomez-Acebo, the Prime Minister met with President Obiang at the Sipopo Conference Centre to discuss the ongoing good relationship between Equatorial Guinea and Spain. Noting that the two countries share a language, history and culture, Prime Minister Rajoy Brey offered his congratulations to the President for the successful organisation of the AU Summit.

Read more: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5343

26.06.14

On Wednesday, 25 June, President Obiang met with the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, to present the new United Nations building in Malabo.

Fully funded by the government, the new building, located in Malabo’s modern centre, has been donated to the UN to assist the international body in carrying out its work in Equatorial Guinea.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is in Equatorial Guinea to attend this week’s African Union Summit. In his speech at the ceremony to mark the presentation of the building, President Obiang thanked the UN for its work in the country, adding that Equatorial Guinea remains committed to the aims and values of the UN, with the government dedicated to investing “in the power of humanity.”

Read more: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5341

26.06.14

The Programme for the Education Development of Equatorial Guinea (PRODEGE) has rolled out a new modernisation campaign following a Steering Committee meeting on 17 June, which approved the work programme and budget for 2014-15.

This includes the launch of a new public-private partnership between the government and the US energy company Hess Corporation. Overseen by the international non-profit human development organization, FHI360, the project will help transform Equatorial Guinea’s education system, giving children the skills they need to succeed.

PRODEGE has already seen huge successes since being established five years ago; it has trained two-thirds of the country’s primary school teachers, opened new schools, modernized the curriculum and strengthened the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Education and Science. The government-supported organization has also created an accelerated teacher certification programme, which works with teachers to improve their classroom management and content knowledge skills.

FHI360 has worked extensively in Equatorial Guinea, training education professionals from across the country, including almost 1,000 primary school teachers.

From this year, PRODEGE will be working with FHI360 and other organisations to meet Equatorial Guinea’s goals for the Horizon 2020 development programme. This includes improving the state school model, ensuring that children learn critical skills and developing close links between schools, parents and local communities. The Ministry of Education and Science is set to take a large role in this programme, ensuring its long-term sustainability and integration into government policy.

23.06.14

The African Union (AU) Summit has begun in Malabo, with leaders from across Africa meeting to hold discussions around the theme ‘Agriculture and Food Security in Africa’. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, will arrive in Malabo on Wednesday to address the Summit and hold bilateral meetings with various heads of state.

The AU Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, arrived in Malabo last Thursday, officially opening the Summit on Friday. Attendees will work together to seek solutions to improving agriculture on the continent for the improved economic and social security of African people. The Summit will continue until Friday, 27^th June.

H.E. Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme, Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the United Kingdom, is a member of the Steering Committee for the AU Summit. As part of the Committee, Her Excellency provides guidance on budgets, resource allocation, marketing and other organisational issues. Her Excellency is also directly responsible for coordinating and supervising the General Secretariat and Drafting Committee of the AU Summit.

Read more: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5318

With one week left until the opening of the 23rd African Union Summit in Sipopo, Malabo, the Government of Equatorial Guinea is finalising its preparations. The organising committee, which includes Equatorial Guinea’s Ambassador to London, has confirmed the agenda as follows:
20 – 21 June – the Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee
23 – 24 June – the Ordinary Session of the Executive Council
26 – 27 June – the Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly

In addition to these sessions, a number of receptions and dinners will be held. This includes a reception on June 20 to welcome the Members of the Permanent Representatives Committee and a reception hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on June 23 in honour of the participants of AU Executive Council. A banquet will be also hosted by the President of Equatorial Guinea on June 26.

This year’s African Union Summit discussions and debates will be largely centred on the priorities of agricultural development and food security in policy to generate concrete results across the continent.

International journalists wishing to cover the conference require an entry pass. Representatives of the media are requested to obtain the permit using the following email address or the telephone numbers of H.E. Mr Teobaldo Nchaso Matomba (00240 222 51-53-35) or H.E. Mr Federico Abaga Ondo (00240 222 27-37-23).

This is the second time in just three years that Equatorial Guinea is hosting a large pan-African meeting.

More details on the conference can be found here.

Equatorial Guinea is hosting the First Spanish Food Week in Central Africa, entitled “Malabo, capital of Flavours” from 8-14 of June. The event was organized by the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Malabo.

A conference room in Malabo’s Hotel Sofitel Sipopo has become a centre of Spanish gastronomy in a bid to encourage Spanish businesses to bring their products to Central Africa. The exhibition features presentations to showcase Spanish products, tapas route and a workshop on a Spanish cuisine. Boho Camo, the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Bioko, said he was pleased to see so many distributors of gourmet products come to understand the market, network and share the myriad of Spanish flavours with the Central Africa. Christian Garma, the commercial counsellor of the Economic Office of Spain in Malabo, stressed the important role that Equatorial Guinea played in this initiative.

The event was attended by citizens of Equatorial Guinea and many other visitors from around the world. Organisers have hinted at a possible second exhibition of this type in the future.

The government of Equatorial Guinea has chosen MAECI Solar, a subsidiarity of Management and Economic Consulting Inc, in collaboration with GE Power & Water and Princeton Power Systems to install a 5MW solar energy project on the island province of Annobón. This project is expected to be the largest self-sufficient solar project on the continent of Africa once complete.

The project’s aim is to provide a reliable and consistent energy source to meet 100% of the Annobón Province’s energy demands. At present, the 5,000 inhabitants of the island have up to five hours of electricity supplied each day but upon the completion, the power plant will supply electricity to every house 24/7. It is hoped that a more reliable energy supply will not only substantially improve the quality of life for residents but also boost the local infrastructure and industry capacity.

The Equatorial Guinean government has made projects such as this one a priority as part of its National Economic Development Plan Horizon 2020.

The original article can be read here.

02.06.14

The Communications Directorate of the African Union (AU) has released details of the programme for the upcoming Summit, which will be held in Malabo from 20 – 27 June. The Summit will centre on the theme ‘Agriculture and Food Security in Africa’. The agenda includes meetings of the Permanent Representatives Committee, the Executive Council and the AU Assembly.

H.E. Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme, Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the United Kingdom, is a member of the Steering Committee for the AU Summit. As part of the Committee, Her Excellency provides guidance on budgets, resource allocation, marketing and other organisational issues. Her Excellency is also directly responsible for coordinating and supervising the General Secretariat and Drafting Committee of the AU Summit.

Read more: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=5243

02.06.14

H.E. Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme, Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the United Kingdom, has been appointed by presidential decree to the Steering Committee for the organisation of the African Union (AU) Summit, to be held in Malabo from 20 – 27 June.

As part of the Committee, Her Excellency will provide key guidance on the organisation of the Summit, including budgets, resource allocation, marketing and logistical issues.

Her Excellency will be directly responsible for coordinating and supervising the work of the national General Secretariat and Drafting Committee. Her working group will also oversee coordination and communication with the AU Secretariat before and during the Summit.

The Communications Directorate of the AU has released the agenda for the upcoming Summit, which will centre on the theme ‘Agriculture and Food Security in Africa’ and will include meetings of the Permanent Representatives Committee, the Executive Council and the AU Assembly.