Luanda - Ninety-six billion kwanzas is the amount disbursed by the Development Bank of Angola (BDA), to finance 146 projects in the fishing sector in the country, the president of the Board of Directors of this banking institution, João Quintas, highlighted on Wednesday, in Luanda.
Speaking at the 15th edition of CaféCIPRA, the BDA manager explained that of the 146 projects financed, 123 are already operational, while others are in the final stages of their implementation, with emphasis on a factory making fishing nets and other materials.
According to the manager, the amount disbursed corresponds to 20 percent of the bank's credit portfolio, since 2017, and the institution remains open to financing more fishing projects, particularly for aquaculture.
Alongside the BDA's financing initiatives, the PCA said that the Deutsche Bank credit line, through the Angolan bank, initiated two projects, totaling 81 million euros (1 euro is worth 928 kwanza).
Regarding these financings, the president of the Credit Guarantee Fund, Luzayadio Simba, said that his institution secured 136 projects, budgeted at 79 billion kwanzas, with a guarantee from the fund of Kz 39 billion.
The manager highlighted that the institution he directs pays special attention to projects linked to artisanal fishing, such as the “Malembe Malembe Program”, which is being developed in the province of Zaire, in partnership with Banco Atlântico, and will be replicated in other locations with other commercial banks.
On the occasion, the Secretary of State for Industry, Carlos de Carvalho Rodrigues, defended the development of artisanal fishing to boost the fish processing industry in the country.
To this end, the leader understands that shipowners and artisanal operators need to organize themselves into cooperatives, to easily use credit and benefit from the Angolan Executive's programs.
With the theme “Investments in the fishing sector and their impact on the economic and social development of the country”, the 15th edition of CaféCIPRA was attended by the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Carmen Neto, and the director of the National Research Institute Pesqueira, Filomena Vaz Velho.
CaféCIPRA is a space for direct and unmoderated dialogue between ministers, secretaries of State, heads of institutes and strategic companies, as well as representatives of civil society (journalists, opinion makers, professional orders, unions, among others). OPF/QCB/DOJ