Luanda - The Angolan government is currently working to finalize structural reforms in port activity to make the country’s ports more innovative, resilient and sustainable, the Secretary of State for Civil Aviation, Maritime and Ports, Rui Carreira, said Wednesday in Luanda.
Speaking at the 4th Conference of the magazine Economia & Mercado on the blue economy, the Secretary of State said this commitment is intended to serve the national, regional, continental and global economy, taking into account Angola's economic potential.
Rui Carreira added that conserving and making sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development means ensuring that Angola and the planet have a promising future for generations to come.
He recalled that Angola is vulnerable to the rise in average sea levels caused by climate change, as around 50% of its population lives along the coast and that there are six national port jurisdictions responsible for handling 95% of the country's imports, including the Port of Luanda, which handles around 80% of the total volume of containerized cargo.
For this reason, Rui Carreira said, professional qualifications at sea, the promotion of scientific knowledge and the technological development of the oceans are also among the goals of Angola's National Strategy for the Sea (ENMA), to be implemented in the 2022-2030 period.
The official underscored that the creation of the ENMA aims to optimize the maritime space security model and strengthen Angola's role in the regional and international context in relation to coastal zone policies.
“After the ENMA was approved in 2022, we saw the creation of the National Sea Commission, which coordinates the implementation of the Strategy and guarantees the participation of all the relevant agents in its implementation,” Carreira said.
The Secretary of State said various laws and regulations have been passed, such as the Fisheries Law and the Aquaculture Law, creating a robust legislative framework for the sector.
He stressed that investments have been made for the modernization of the ports, such as the Port of Luanda and the Port of Namibe, along with the construction of new maritime infrastructures, such as naval bases and oil terminals.
The 4th Economy & Market magazine conference on the blue economy aims to discuss and explore issues related to the implementation of Angola's National Strategy for the Sea 2030 (ENMA).
The one-day event brought together experts who debated the challenges and opportunities of the blue economy and shared experiences and strategies to boost the sustainable growth of maritime resources.
Data indicates that the sea can represent considerable growth in the medium and long term, with estimates indicating a 23% increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 18% in employment and a decrease of up to 10% in carbon dioxide emissions. HM/QCB/AMP
