Chinese Government provides RMB 35.2 million interest-free loan — via ETCA — for Bata Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office Building Construction Project

On May 4, 2005, the Chinese Government and the Government of Equatorial Guinea signed and Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which committed an interest-free loan for the Bata Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office Building Construction Project. The face value of this loan from China’s Ministry of Commerce is unknown. The project involved the construction of a three-story Ministry of Foreign Affairs office building in the city of Bata (in an area along the Airport Road that occupies 4650 square meters). China National Electric Engineering Co. Ltd and Beijing Municipal Construction Co Ltd were the contractors responsible for implementation. On April 28, 2007, a design contract signing ceremony was held. According to the Autonomous Fund for Amortization of Public Debt (Caja Autónoma de Amortización de la Deuda Pública) within Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Finance and Budget, this loan had disbursed RMB 35,240,000 as of December 31, 2019. The borrower had not made any principal or interest repayments as of December 31, 2019 Pre-construction project preparations began on February 10, 2008. Then, on April 2, 2008, a construction contract was signed. The project was ultimately completed on October 12, 2009.

Additional details

1. The Chinese project title is 府援建的赤几外交部巴塔办公大楼项目 or 外交部巴塔办公大楼项目 or 援赤道几内亚外交部巴塔办公楼项目 or 了援赤道几内亚外交部巴塔办公楼项目. The Spanish project title is El Proyecto del Edificio Oficial en Bata del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Guinea Ecuatorial or Inmueble Del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación de Guinea Ecuatorial. 2. This loan is not included in the database of Chinese loan commitments that SAIS-CARI released in July 2020. 3. One source labels the commitment date as April 5, 2005 (source ID# 151888) 4. In 2021, the Chinese Government financed and completed a Bata and Malabo Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office Building Maintenance Project. 5. Since the borrowing terms of the interest-free loan are unavailable, AidData has set maturity period to 20 years by default and grace period to 10 years by default per China's Foreign Assistance White Paper (http://www.cidca.gov.cn/2018-08/06/c_129925064_3.htm) which states that the maturity period of interest-free loans is 20 years, with a drawdown period of 5 years, grace period of 5 years, and repayment over 10 years.

Number of official sources

18

Number of total sources

19