Luanda - The Secretary of State for Trade and Services, Augusta Fortes, said Thursday in Luanda that the government is working on the future draft of the national agenda for entrepreneurship, a strategic instrument that outlines the path to be followed in the short, medium and long term.
Speaking at the opening of the 3rd Edition of the Angola Startup Summit-2024, he emphasised that the bill will answer questions about the type of entrepreneurship that is being built for the country and the existing support mechanism to boost entrepreneurship.
She reiterated the interest and importance that the government attaches to entrepreneurship, as well as the ambition to see this potential area better explored and utilised, as it is a relevant area of the national economy.
According to the Secretary of State, this path has to be taken with the participation of the private sector, and the guidelines are contained in the National Development Plan (PDN) 2023-2027.
The government official highlighted the programmes for Promoting Innovation and Transfer and for Employment, Entrepreneurship and Training, which will continue to focus on developing human capital.
She said that within the framework of stimulating the digital and creative economy, the recognition of the importance of entrepreneurship for the country is defined in various programmes, with actions being developed through the National Institute for Supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (INAPEM).
Augusta Fortes considered fundamental the consolidation of tax incentives for professional internships, the micro-credit and promoting entrepreneurial activities through other developed initiatives both by public and private sectors.
She said that the role of the entrepreneur is essential in any society, “because creativity comes from them and the realisation of ideas into the businesses needed to build the progress of nations depends on them”.
“We need to continue investing in human capital, because we realise that one of the challenges facing our young people is unemployment”, she said.
In turn, Luanda's deputy governor for the Economic Sector, Jorge Miguêns, stressed the need for the event to “create the starting point” for positioning Angola at the center of the regional and international innovation ecosystem, serving as a springboard for development.
“We hope that from this Startup Summit new solutions will emerge for the market, to help it grow its clients, business and realise its goals”, said the official.
The event which is taking place at the Talatona Convention Centre until next Saturday, the summit is organised by the National Institute for the Support of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (INAPEM), in partnership with UNITEL, and aims to seek investment opportunities through the exchange of experiences and doing business.
The event's motto is “Fostering new business models and verticals” and involves more than 135 startups, 20 institutional stands and 45 speakers.
In attendance are entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, students, public and private institutions interested in promoting innovation, the use of new technologies and the country's digital transformation. HM/VC/MRA/DOJ
