Luanda - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) representative in Angola, Benazir Silva, said Friday in Luanda that Investment in the export of national products makes it possible to improve the competitiveness of companies and strengthen economic growth by attracting foreign currency.
Speaking at the 1st Angola Export and Business Certification (CENA) workshop, she also stressed that exports increase the number of jobs and the skills needed to meet the standards of industry and buyers.
Benazir Silva also considered it extremely important for products to be certified for the export process, pointing out that some of the certifications needed to meet customer standards include Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and organic certification.
The director of Food Care, Marlene José, emphasised that the company has a portfolio of 25 different products, especially peanut butter (Moamba de ginguba) and fuba.
She also said that the company is adding products acquired from the countryside, packaging and sanitising these goods for export to the European market.
For his part, the communications director of the Angolan Beverage Industry Association (AIBA), Moisés Camões, said that the current context was very challenging for companies in the sector in terms of obtaining foreign currency and acquiring raw materials.
With regard to the decree banning the production, import, commercialisation and consumption of spirits packaged in plastic sachets, he said that at the moment only three of the 25 existing companies are in operation.
The workshop on Export and Business Certification in Angola, organised by AIPEX in partnership with AuthenticPoint, the official representative of Société Général Surveillance (SGS) in Angola, aimed to promote the sharing of knowledge and the exchange of experiences on product certification mechanisms.
Topics covered included the importance of food safety in certification and export processes, the benefits of product certification and labelling, as well as the relevance and critical role of metrology in quality control and compliance, among others. HM/QCB/DAN/DOJ
