Mbanza Kongo – At least 40 million US dollars will be made available by the Implementation Unit of the Project to Accelerate Economic Diversification and Job Creation, as part of the "Diversifica Mais" project to boost border trade and build enterprises at the Luvo customs post in the Mbanza Kongo municipality.
The "Diversifica Mais" project financed by a loan from the World Bank, has an investment budget of 300 million US dollars to be implemented over a six-year period (2024-2029), with a greater focus on the Lobito Corridor.
A delegation from the "Diversifica Mais" project, led by the central secretary of the Coordinated Border Management Committee, Bráulio Fernando, travelled to Luvo commune on Wednesday morning to assess the infrastructure under construction at that border post with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Gonçalo da Silva Leitão, explained that for the Luvo commune, the project plans to support small projects to ensure efficient customs clearance and proper use of the Single Window for Foreign Trade as well as the rehabilitation of border infrastructure, such as inspection facilities, offices and internet and electricity supply.
According to Leitão, the Luvo border post is among the four geographical points in Angola to benefit from the funding, due to the strong flow of trade with the neighboring DRC.
Gonçalo Leitão said the project will create and make available a mechanism for managing complaints and suggestions to protect women in vulnerable situations who trade in that border and strengthen their skills.
"Diversifica Mais" project, which operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Planning, was launched in March this year and its main focus is the Lobito corridor, which covers four provinces: Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico.
The border commune of Luvo is 60 kilometres north of the city of Mbanza Kongo.
Major economic developments, most notably the construction of the future Customs Border Post, are being built in the commune on the border with the neighbouring DRC.DA/JL/DAN/AMP
