Speaking to the press at the end of the meeting, the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, José de Lima Massano, informed that the meeting aimed to analyze the progress of cooperation in the areas of military, defense and security, infrastructures, telecommunications, transport, health, agriculture, commerce, among others.
The idea is to enhance this cooperation, given the new moment in relations between Angola and the United States of America.
He mentioned that perhaps the most relevant thing for the business community is the opportunities that are opening up for the export of more “Made in Angola” products, as well as the indication of the availability of support for private initiatives in the country.
Minister José Massano added that it will be necessary to create all operational terms to ensure that this new moment materializes with effective gains for both countries, particularly for the Angolan economy, for the citizens.
On the private business side, he highlighted the opportunity for more projects to be financed with support from North American financial institutions.
“In very general terms, this was the scope of today’s meeting, held on the initiative of His Excellency the President of the Republic”, he stressed.
Regarding the skepticism that may arise regarding practical results, the Minister of State for Economic Coordination reaffirmed that we are in fact living in a new moment and the most recent developments demonstrate a concrete case, presenting as an example the Lobito corridor, in which The entities that won the design for exploration also already have effective financial support from North American entities.
He informed that the USA announced, and is underway, an investment program in terms of infrastructure for less developed countries, in which Angola was selected.
The expectation, he added, is to have more resources available to continue developing the country.
He also highlighted the European Union’s partnership with less developed countries, of which Angola is also included, selected from the first batch to benefit from this support for infrastructure.
He highlighted the closer relationship that aims to enable the Angolan economy to be better able to export goods to the USA, within the scope of AGOA, as well as attract more North American investment to Angola in the most varied areas.
He added that Angola, from now on, will have to continue working so that the recommended actions are materialized, with emphasis on the availability of financing for the private business sector, with the opportunity for more projects to be financed.
He explained that in a context of greater proximity and more openness, gains, naturally, are not visible overnight, but there is a path and a framework of opportunities, from which the greatest possible advantage must be taken.
He emphasized that the responsibility lies with the Government of Angola and then there is the private sector, where the greatest achievements are expected, as, on the one hand, there will be more North American companies operating in Angola, the most relevant being the opportunities that will be placed to those companies that already operate in the country and that have the initiative and capacity to grow their business and need financial capacity.
“So we have this window of opportunity. We all have to organize ourselves and take greater advantage of this new framework of cooperation between Angola and the USA”, he concluded. PA/VC