Luanda - Angola's permanent representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva (Switzerland) Margarida Izata reiterated her country’s government’s interest in a new trade relationship with Mozambique in the coming years.
The diplomat expressed this position during the session of the Trade Policy Review Body (RPC), dedicated to the fourth review of Mozambique's trade policy taking place at the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva from July 1 to 3.
According to Margarida Izata, despite being active members of the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and the WTO, since 1995 and 1996 respectively, Mozambique and Angola are unfortunately very modest trading partners.
According to the diplomat, the consolidated statistics available from UN-COMTRADE during 2022 indicate that Angola exported only 2.05 million US dollars to Mozambique and imported goods worth 7.93 million dollars from this country.
"These are derisory figures, so a new trade relationship must be implemented in the coming years," the diplomat said.
The ambassador added that Angola agrees with Mozambique on the principles of WTO decision making by consensus and the widening of the space for developing countries.
Margarida Izata's statements are included in a press release from the Permanent Mission of Angola to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, to which ANGOP had access on Wednesday.
The session of the WTO's Trade Policy Review Body (RPC) dedicated to Angola took place in March, and the country was represented by a delegation led by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Rui Miguêns de Oliveira.
Angola and Mozambique have historical ties of brotherhood, friendship, fraternity and solidarity, since the struggle against Portuguese colonialism, which culminated in the independence of the two states on November 11, 1975 and June 25, 1975 respectively.
The strengthening of bilateral cooperation was discussed at the end of May in Luanda, during an audience granted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Téte António, to the Mozambican ambassador to Angola, Osvalda Joana.
On that occasion the two diplomats expressed desire for bilateral relations and investments to grow, especially in the fields of trade, agricultural training, fisheries, energy and oil. ADR/IZ/AMP
