Equatorial Guinea Gives US$30 Million To FAO For Food Aid In Africa

Equatorial Guinea joins the fight to end hunger in Africa

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Equatorial Guinea has offered US$30 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to assist African countries with food shortages and improve food security across the continent. The donation comes after a meeting between the President of Equatorial Guinea and Jose Graziano Da Silva, Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization at the 67^th United Nations General Assembly in September.

"We believe that with this contribution, the FAO will advance plans to end hunger in Africa," said President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The remarks were made during the 'first stone' ceremony held to inaugurate new infrastructure projects in the province of Wele-Nzas. The President of Equatorial Guinea also made reference to the accusations from international press of Equatorial Guineans allowing its people to live in poverty. In this regard, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said that even major economic powers have poverty, "but what does not exist in Equatorial Guinea is misery."

Equatorial Guinea, which claimed independence from Spain 44 years ago today, has expressed concern for the issue of food security in the past. In the context of the Regional Conference for Africa 2012, held in April in the Republic of Congo, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, then Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Equatorial Guinea, communicated Equatorial Guinea's sense of responsibility, stating, "Equatorial Guinea is committed to improving food security for its people and for the region.  We are currently implementing government programs that will both ensure the increasing development of intra-African trade and help local communities prosper."

Additionally, President Obiang Nguema reminded the international community that the priority for Equatorial Guinea is to meet the development goals established for 2020, stating that, "[We are] controlling our resources perfectly and the result is the financing of the large infrastructure projects that the country undertakes."

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 hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union, 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and 2012 Leon H. Sullivan Summit. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea

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