Luanda – The Minister of Economy and Planning, Mário Caetano João, presented this Tuesday agribusiness, industry, digital economy, health and renewable energies as the sectors with the greatest investment opportunities for Austrian investors.
According to the minister, Angola offers various opportunities in the field of natural resources, especially water, with about 5% of the world's water
and arable land, but only 25% of it is exploited.
While speaking at the 1st Angola-Austria Business Forum, Mário Caetano João, highlighted agribusiness as one of the priorities for animal and plant
production, fertilizers and phytopharmaceuticals (crop protection products).
In the industrial sector, the official highlighted the existing potential in the country in the transformation of agro-food products and in mining, while in health he presented the Austrians with business opportunities in the production of medicines and vaccines, not only for human, but also for the animal segment.
The Minister of Economy and Planning understands that the Federative Republic of Australia has enormous experience and 'know-how' to transmit to
Angolans, for this reason, he invites Austrian businessmen to invest in information technologies, in banking systems, as well as in renewable energies.
“In the energy sector, Austria has about 60% of renewable sources and Angola has countless potential, using wind and solar water sources”, asserted the
minister.
In this regard, Mário Caetano João indicated that Angola's geostrategic position is advantageous, since the country is part of the Communities for
the Development of Southern Africa (SADC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC), which represent opportunities business,
approximately one trillion dollars.
“This means that Austrian companies, by investing in Angola, would be opening up the possibility of selling their surplus production to regional and inter-African markets”.
He pointed out that Angola does not present risks for investment in the agriculture sector, since it is practically free of landmines and has new
policies aimed at the business sector in this sector.
In turn, the Chairman of the Board of Directors (PCA) of the Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX), Lello Francisco, said that this Angola-Austria Forum aims to create a platform to facilitate Austrian investments in Angola.
For this purpose, AIPEX presents a set of support instruments, from prospecting, implementation, production and repatriation of dividends.
In this regard, during the Angola-Austria business roundtable, the PCA advanced that the legislative and institutional framework exempts up to 90%
of customs duties on the importation of equipment and machinery, whether for Small, Medium or Large Companies.
Meanwhile, the vice president of the Austrian Economic Chambers, Carmem Goby, said that the meeting constitutes a step towards strengthening the
relationship and partnership between the two States.
Carmem Goby is accompanied at the Angola-Austria Business Forum, with a business delegation from 12 large groups, representing more than 500,000
Austrian companies.
On the occasion, the General and Regional Director for Africa, Middle East and Turkey of the Austrian plastics processing company, ALPLA, Javier Delgado, said that his company represents the largest Austrian private investment in Angola, with an investment volume of 10 million of euros.
Javier Delgado, who was also part of the Round Table panel, added that this investment (10 million euros) resulted in the construction of two processing factories, with 56 national workers, which produce more than 75 million different plastic utensils and expects to double this production, until 2024, in a capital increase of four million euros.
The 1st Angola – Austria Business Forum, an initiative of the Austrian Consulate in Angola, is part of the official visit of the Head of Government
of that country, the Chancellor, Karl Nehammer.
