Brussels, 7 April 2014/ ACP: The President of Equatorial Guinea, H.E Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo pledged generous support to the ACP Group on Friday 4 April, including €200,000 to help the work of the Secretariat, and a commitment to host and bear the costs of the ACP Eminent Persons Group's regional consultations for Central Africa.
President Mbasogo, who is the sitting Chair of the ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government, added that his Government is also willing to contribute towards realising a new and improved ACP Headquarters building.
In his first address to the Committee of Ambassadors, Africa's longest serving leader called for a diversification of partners for the ACP Group, and “new initiatives” to address modern day global development challenges.
“We should look beyond our borders in order to find solutions through our unity, while working together and in cooperation with other developing countries, in order to bring hope to our peoples and prestige to our Group,” he told diplomats.
“…Now though it is clear that Europe will continue in the next few years to be a key actor in our countries in terms of development assistance, at the same time we are of the view that the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – known as the BRICS – offer new opportunities.”
President Mbasogo first called for the set up of a “globally organised and inclusive” South-South Cooperation organisation during the ACP Summit for Heads of States and Governments held in Malabo in December 2012. A study commissioned by the ACP Secretariat is currently underway to explore the proposal further, by mapping out case studies and best practices related to South-South and Triangular Cooperation in ACP countries.
The President urged Ambassadors to take advantage of the numerical strength of the 79-member ACP Group, and “bring influence to bear on the international scene” while promoting the development goals of member states.
The Chair of the Committee of Ambassadors H.E Dr Diodorus Kamala of Tanzania, updated the President on key initiatives of the ACP Group, including the development of an ACP-EU joint strategy on private sector development, formulating a common platform for the Post-2015 Development Agenda, programming of the Intra-ACP instrument of the 11th European Development Fund, and finalising plans for a new ACP Headquarters building.
He applauded Equatorial Guinea's socio-economic progress, including reaching a GDP per capita of more than USD 26,000, as well as its Head of State's commitment to Pan-Africanism and solidarity with the ACP Group.
(Photo: The President of Equatorial Guinea H.E Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (centre) with the First Lady, pictured with (from left) the Ambassador of Guyana H.E Patrick I Gomes, Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the EU H.E Carmelo Nvono-Ncá , ACP Secretary General H.E Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Ambassador of Tanzania and Chair of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors H.E Dr Diodorus Kamala, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Equatorial Guinea H.E Agapito Mba Mokuy.)
– ACP Press