Speaking to the press, Agostinho Van-Dúnem said that the objective is to ensure that both the business sector and the population can realize the benefits of investments along the Lobito Corridor.

“We are passing on the idea to the American and European parties, that investment in the Lobito Corridor must have an impact on people’s lives, especially in communities, empowering our entrepreneurs and ensuring more jobs for Angolans”, he defended.

He also said that he intends to bring investors and partners to Angola, to understand their potential and how they can help diversify the national economy.

The diplomat informed that the United States will provide USD 250 million and, in this context, businesspeople from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia are also preparing the feasibility study of their projects.

“The business sector in each country must prepare itself to be able to compete to seek this financing”, he warned.

He added that Angola intends to convince that there are other viable projects in the fields of agriculture and agribusiness.

“Food security is one of the objectives we are working towards, depending on the diversification of our economy”, he stated.

According to the ambassador, it is the Executive’s intention to involve Angolan partners, local producers and families, in the benefits of the Lobito Corridor.

“That’s why we brought the members of the strategic partnership here to understand that there is some installed capacity,” he stated.

He also promised to work to, next year, bring in entrepreneurs linked to the production and capture of energy, capture, treatment and distribution of water, as well as the construction of tertiary roads to bring production to large logistical consumption centers.

“There is a group of businesspeople who are presenting investment intentions, seeking partnerships”, he explained.

He gave the example of Grupo Carrinho, which is looking for financing in the United States to increase its production capacity.

“It is our role to ensure that groups like Carrinho, small, medium and large companies, have access to external financing”, he concluded. TC/CRB