Abstract | The Round Table “Prospects of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea’s Sustainable Socio-Economic Development (the 50th Anniversary of Independence)” was held in the Centre for Transitional Economy Studies, Institute for African Studies RAS. The discussion was concentrated on the problem of mixed results of Equatorial Guinea’s economic development. Answering the question if the country will become the African economic “tiger”, the speakers analyzed in details its economic potential for oil sector development as a trigger of economic growth, the implementation of industrialization, agriculture production renewal, the reliable access provision to energy and ICT for producers and consumers, the introduction of the modern system of investment regulation. The special attention was paid to the most important socio-economic and political obstacles on the way to the country’s progress, fist of all, persistence of poverty and unemployment, great social inequality, the low level of Equatorial Guinea’s participation in the process of African integration. At the same time, despite unresolved significant social and political problems, as well as the impact of changes occurring in the world economic system, turning the socio-economic situation of Equatorial Guinea for the better is possible. It directly depends on the process of implementing the outlined reforms in political and economic life of the country. |