Lubango - The Angolan government has 400 billion kwanzas in this year's budget to pay off overdue public debts, which represents 20 percent of the total debt, set at 3 trillion kwanzas, the Secretary of State for Finance and Treasury, Ottoniel dos Santos, said Tuesday in the central province of Huambo.

The official made the statement during a meeting with the business community and the General Tax Administration (AGT), aimed at identifying the main difficulties faced by taxpayers in meeting their tax obligations.

According to Ottoniel dos Santos, the overdue and certified public debt relates to the period 2013-2019, with a stock of nearly 3 trillion kwanzas already certified, and that in addition to this certification, there are other processes in the General Inspectorate of State Administration (IGAE) for debts to be certified.

The Secretary of State said that the plan is to consider these resources and manage them according to their limitations, taking into account the time and value of the debt, in order to reach the largest number of creditors.

Ottoniel dos Santos said the government is concerned about the payment of debts owed to the local market, as it affects entrepreneurs.

EM/MS/AMP