São Tomé and Príncipe&ndash;Spain relations

São Tomé and Príncipe–Spain relations

São Tomé and Príncipe-Spain relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. The embassy of Sao Tome and Principe in Lisbon is accredited for Spain, This country also has a consulate general in Madrid. Spain also has no resident embassy in the archipelago, but the Spanish embassy in Libreville, Gabon, is accredited for Sao Tome and Principe.
Diplomatic relations
The relations between Spain and Sao Tome and Principe are excellent from a political point of view, although they are characterized by weak contacts (there are practically no official visits in either direction) and the low density of economic and cooperation exchanges, especially since STP ceased to be a country of preferential care for Spanish Cooperation (it was in the 2005-2008 Master Plan, but not in the following).
Economic relations
The trade balance of Sao Tome and Principe has closed with a deficit in recent years. The drop in the international price of hydrocarbons will contribute to this balance being reduced during 2014, and predictably in 2015. The products that São Tomé exports to the rest of the world are especially cocoa and coffee, while importing food products, fuels, textiles and automobiles.
Cooperation
In the framework of the II Master Plan for Spanish Cooperation (2005-2008), which included São Tomé and Príncipe as a preferred country, the Preferred Action Plan (2006-2008) was created, which gave rise to the III Mixed Commission (2007 -2010). As of the III Master Plan of the Spanish Cooperation 2009-2012, São Tomé and Príncipe ceases to be the country of action of the Spanish Cooperation, a position that is maintained in the IV PD (2013-2016) by strongly influencing the geographic concentration.
The net ODA destined to São Tomé and Príncipe in the period 2007-2010 was 6.1M, of which AECID, through direct bilateral development projects and NGOs, financed action worth € 4M. As of 2010, AECID does not approve any intervention in that country except for a triangular cooperation project with Cape Verde in 2014, currently the only intervention in execution.
The main sectors of action have been water and sanitation, fishing and tourism. In general they allowed a remarkable presence and visibility of the Spanish Cooperation. Specifically, in the water and sanitation sector, there was a huge impact with projects to open water sources, water pipes and sanitary landfills. The actions in the fishing sector have continued with the completion of Spanish financing with support from the European Union to CETMAR, an institution that had received AECID funds for this line of work. In the tourism sector, there was also a performance of a certain impact, through the execution of a project by KOAN CONSULTING.
Cultural cooperation
At the level of cultural cooperation, in 2011 and coinciding with the celebration of the national holiday, the Spanish Embassy organized its first official cultural activity in Sao Tome. In 2013, the Embassy presented with great success two concerts by guitarist Nono García and his group. These activities have been possible thanks to the support of Spanish companies and a local hotel company.

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