Equatorial Guinea reiterates commitment to regional maritime cooperation under MOWCA

Stanley Ihedigbo

In a show of continued regional cooperation, the Government of Equatorial Guinea has restated its support for the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), pledging to aid the organisation’s efforts in advancing a sustainable blue economy across the continent.

The country’s Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Postal Services, Evito Oma, who stated this when he received the Secretary General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, in Malabo, reaffirmed their commitment to MOWCA’s objectives and programmes.

Mr Oma, who commended Dr Paul Adalikwu’s visionary leadership of MOWCA, expressed support for enhanced technical collaboration between MOWCA and his Ministry for the benefit of his country. The minister also spoke on maritime trade facilitation within West and Central Africa.

Oma added that the country will sustain its collaboration with MOWCA to advance maritime safety, security, and sustainable maritime transport across the West and Central African sub-region.

Speaking earlier, Dr Adalikwu described the Republic of Equatorial Guinea as a strategic country, naturally endowed to be a key player in the African maritime space.

He praised the government for its robust performance in the oil and gas sector and commercial shipping through its key ports despite a few surmountable security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to Dr Adalikwu, Equatorial Guinea remains a significant offshore hydrocarbon producer in Sub-Saharan Africa whose participation in maritime trade is a significant contribution to Africa’s blue economy activities and development.

The MOWCA SG also praised the country for its assured increasing participation in the organisation’s programmes and decision-making processes.

While briefing Oma on MOWCA’s activities and future programmes, Adalikwu told the minister that the country stands to benefit from the maritime human capital development programmes backed by other international bodies like the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Governments of Singapore, Malaysia and more.

The MOWCA SG added that the country stands to be the first-line beneficiary from the Regional Maritime Development Bank for vessel financing and maritime infrastructure expansion, upgrade or development. Both parties ended the meeting with a strong commitment to strengthen cooperation between them.