Hon. Mr.Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo: “Investing in Equatorial Guinea: the Pearl of Africa”

On 1 April 2014, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized a luncheon-debate at the ‘Circle of Entrepreneurs’ Forum in Brussels with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea. In addition to the members of the Equatorial Guinean government and other authorities of this country, Antonio Tajani, Vice-president of the European Commission, participated as well as ambassadors and members of the international diplomatic corps and a large group of European entrepreneurs.

The event began with the intervention of the President of the Chamber, Juan Rodriguez-Villa, who highlighted the fact that President Obiang is nowadays head of the ACP Group of States, head of the African-South-American Summit and head of the Gulf of Guinea Commission Summit. Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons indicated that the trade balance between Equatorial Guinea and the European Union is slightly favourable for the African country, Europe being the first commercial partner of Equatorial Guinea in the world.

He also underlined the importance of a favourable atmosphere for the development of the economy and expressed that the coupling economic development – social welfare, will lead to exchanges and improvements in the investments of Europe in Equatorial Guinea.

Subsequently and under the title ‘Investing in Equatorial Guinea: the Pearl of Africa’, the President of Equatorial Guinea has spoken about the business relationship between Europe and Equatorial Guinea, highlighting that there could be a mutually beneficial cooperation due to the fact that Africa can offer resources and Europe can offer technology.