International Focus Magazine Vol. 3, #10 | Page 45
IF Magazine Heidi PP: What is the
role of the Consul General in Hous-
ton?
Tomas Dickens: The Consulate’s role
mainly is based on consular and
commercial affairs. Anything that has
to do with promoting business with
our country, especially working with
the energy sector, the oil companies.
We do not actually have a lot of peo-
ple here on their own. They are ei-
ther students or working with the oil
companies. We have many students
here, close to 200 currently. They are
not only in Houston but also Dallas,
Arkansas, and Atlanta. Most are study-
ing business. Those that are working
for the oil companies are sent here
for training through the companies.
IF Magazine Heidi PP: What would
you like for US investors to know
about investing in Equatorial Guin-
ea?
Tomas Dickens: I would start by
saying, the President of Equato-
rial Guinea has traveled to Houston
a couple of times during which he
invited investors from all sectors in-
cluding the non energy investors to
go to Equatorial Guinea and see for
themselves what we have to offer.
Now we are working toward diversi-
fying our investments with other in-
dustries besides oil. Cocoa and coffee
have historically been products from
Equatorial Guinea. We also have fish-
ing and timber, also tourism. We are
rich in natural resources and wildlife.
There is some mining even though
the mining sector is not well devel-
oped yet.
Our Minister of Mines and Hydro-
carbons is working on that to make
it more productive and attractive to
investors in that industry. Our gov-
ernment is investing a lot on infra-
structure and housing for middle and
lower income families.
As a matter of fact, in the past 10
years, I would say there have been a
lot of improvements in construction
and technology. There are new roads
and electricity through most of the
area which facilitates communication
and commerce among the people. It
has been quite an achievement. Edu-
cation and health has been the pri-
orities of our government. We have
reached a 93% percent literacy rate
from elementary to University level.
Our population is quite small and
young.
IF Magazine Heidi PP: Tell us a little
about your background, your experi-
ence, and what led to you serving as
the Consul in Houston.
Tomas Dickens: My background is
international relations. I served as a
Protocol Officer at the Foreign Min-
istry but then I moved to work in the
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