Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial Republic of Equatorial Guinea (former: Spanish Guinea) is located in Central Africa region.

Its total area: 28,051 sq. Km split between insular components - Islands of Bioko, (former Fernando Po), Pigalu, Elobey Grande, Elobey Chico Annobon, Corisco - and continental mainland territory Bata: (former Rio Muni - accounting for 85% of the total area).The two parts are separated by vast expanses of sea,

Neighboring countries: Cameroon to the north of mainland territory (over 209 km), Gabon to the east and south of mainland territory (over 370 km), and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. (Coastline: 148 km for the mainland territory) . Maritime frontiers with Nigeria, Cameroon around the Island of Bioko.

Population: 486,060 (July 2001); 510,473 (July 2003 est.) - growth rate of 2.44% (2003 est.)

Capital-City: Malabo (on the north coast of Bioko Island)

Independence from Spain : October 12, 1968 ()
National holiday: Independence Day, October 12
New constitution November 17, 1991

Natural resources: oil, gold, manganese, bauxite, columbo-tantalite, diamond

Agriculture productions: cocoa, cassava, sweet potatoes, coffee, palm oil, bananas and coconuts.

Industrial productions: gas, oil, petroleum products, LPG, timber, well water, wine (from rehydrated imported grape powder) soap and detergent, small metal works operation utilizing recycled metals and aluminum imported from Cameroon and the manufacture of building materials.

As one can see on above Africa's map at the left side, Equatorial Guinea territory is right in the middle of the Gulf of Guinea's oil-rich waters (where oil fields had been discovered in Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Sao-Tome and Angola).

In 199l the country began pumping petroleum resources. With the discovery of additional oil deposits off Bioko Island in 1995 oil production has increased so rapidly that Equatorial Guinea is currently the sixth largest producer in sub-Sahara Africa after Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Congo (Brazzaville) and Cameroon See territorial waters' allocation on map below.

The economy is largely based on oil exploitation and related services that account for 80% of the GNP and nearly 97% of hard currency earnings (See Table above). However, one has to notice that the high economic growth rates per year experienced by the country since a decade and a half - and subsequent highest per capita GNP in Africa - is not translating into increased wealth for the majority of the population.

That might happen only if agricultural productions are diversified and developed in the mailand territory of Bata - the homeland to 80% of the populations. Nevertheless, question remains about how the economy will evolve after the "Oil Era" -

The political authorities are now fully aware of the problem and are planning to use substantial amount of oil's proceeds to building up a financial cushion like the Kuwait's Reserve For Future Generationto secure / maintain the economic growth rate o after the "Oil Era".

Indeed, huge surplus of the balance of payments give a great opportunity to Equatorial Guinea's politicy-makers to plan ahead for a sustained developing of the country - through the implementation of a strategic scheme that does not neglect agriculture's development:

1- To develop and diversify agriculture to producing staple food crops: cassava, banana, vegetable oils plants and cereals; revive the cultivation of existing cash crops: cocoa and coffee. 2- To promote animal breeding (click here for a development scheme based on pig breeding) 3- To develop a fishing industry based on catches inside the 314,000-square kilometer exclusive maritime economic zone surrounding the Island of Annobon, off the mainland territory coastline - one of the Atlantic's richest fishing fields. Click here for an "Income Building Scheme" based on the fishing industry. 4- To establish processing plants to increase the added value of existing agricultural productions (cocoa, cassava, sweet potatoes, coffee, palm oil, bananas, coconuts and fish)

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Millions of US $
Years	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
GNP	515.9	639.3	770.9	960	1,653	2,579	3,507	4,419
GNP growth	55.7%	24.0%	21.0%	25.0%	72.2%	56%	36%	26%
per capita GNP	1,255	1,514	1,780	2,157	3,401	5,384	6,863	8,300

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power. The per capita GNP's evolution outlined in above table does not reflect the economic reality. The majority of the population is not benefiting yet from the Gusher of Wealth originating from huge oil's proceeds.

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 20%
   

2. industry: 60%
   
3. services: 20%

Exports: Crude oil accounting for 95%, timber 3.6%, cocoa 0.70 % and coffee .0.70%: LPG since end of 2001.

Millions of US$
Years	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Export	23.3	522.0	622.6	965	1,653	2,810	4,356	6,112
Import	135.1	113.5	121.4	185.8	298	359	402	482
Balance Of Payment	-112.2	408.5	501.2	764.7	1,355	2,451	3,954	5,630

Imports: Machinery and equipment (76.6 %), building material (7.1 %), refined petroleum products (1.9 %), food stuffs (1.6 %), beverages (1.4 %) and bakery goods (.6 %).

MORE ON EQUATORIAL GUINEA 1- Investment & Business Guide Digital Delivery In PDF 2- Executive Report On Strategies In Equatorial Guinea Digital Delivery In PDF 3- Business Law Handbook Digital Delivery In PDF 4- Historical Dictionary Of Equatorial Guinea by Max Liniger-Goumaz

5- An African Tragedy by Randall Fegley 6- Tropical Gangsters One Man Experience In Deepest Africa by Robert Klitgaard 7- The Art of Eq. Guinea The Fang TRibes / by Sierra Delage 8- Small Is Not Always Beautiful by Max liniger-Goumaz

FOR CURRENCY EQUIVALENCE CLICK HERE

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All visitors to Equatorial Guinea require a visa, except nationals of the USA.

All visitors entering Equatorial Guinea are required to present evidence of a yellow fever vaccination received within the last ten years on a valid World Health Organization (WHO) international health immunization certificate. The certificate must be presented upon arrival to as well as departure from Equatorial Guinea.

Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the nearest Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

France Embassy of Equatorial Guinea 6, rue Alfred de Vigny 75008 Paris, France Tel: +(33) 1 47 66 44 33 Fax: +(33) 1 47 09 26 38	USA Embassy of Equatorial Guinea Suite 405, 1511 K Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20005, Tel: +(1) 202 393-0525 Fax: +(1) 202 393-0348
USA Consulate of Equatorial Guinea 57 Magnolia Avenue Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 10553 Tel: +(1) 914 667-6913 Fax: +(1) 914 667-6838

Currently Malabo has direct air connections with Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), Cotonou (Benin), Douala (Cameroon), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Libreville (Gabon), Madrid (Spain), Pointe Noire (Congo)

Bata is serviced by two national airlines (Guinea Equatorial Airlines, S.A.- GEASA; Ecuato Guineana de Aviacion - EGA - the official national flag carrier). The two national companies - EGA and GEASA operate in cooperative tandem servicing Malabo and Bata, with weekly flights to Douala and to Libreville. Iberia, Hispanair are also present.

The country is equipped with two of the deepest Atlantic seaports of the West Africa's region: Malabo and Bata, with shipments to Spain and the Canary Islands. The other continental ports of Mbini and Cogo are used primarily for timber activities. Luba, the third largest port of the country is located some 50 kilometers from the major port at Malabo and is virtually inactive except for minor fishing activities and occasional use to ease congestion in Malabo.

Merchant Marine is composed of two vessels (1990), deadweight tonnage 6,699 (1990)

There is a business opportunity in the transport sector to connecting the Island of Bioko with Bata the mainland.

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Malabo, Bata and Ebebiyan each offer hotels of variable standards. There is one hotel in Luba. In Malabo, there are also a few hostels offering basic but cheap accommodation with shared bathroom facilities (two of which are located in Avenida de las Naciónes). For more information, contact one of the addresses listed in the Entry / Health section above.