Lisbon – Angola’s Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport and the Lobito Corridor were in the spotlight on Tuesday, in the city of Lisbon during a presentation of business opportunities to entrepreneurs from Portuguese-speaking countries.
The two ventures were highlighted during “Doing Business Angola 2024”, organized by Jornal Económico, Forbes Portugal and Lusophone Countries, to explain to businesspeople the potential of the respective projects and the business opportunity they represent.
The event, which was attended, among others, by the Angolan Minister of Transport, Ricardo D'Abreu, and the chairperson of the Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX), Arlindo das Chagas Rangel, met in one of Lisbon's hotels Portuguese and Angolan diplomats and businessmen from different fields of activity.
When speaking at the end of the event, minister Ricardo D’Abreu highlighted the importance of the National Transport Sector Plan, in which the Lobito Corridor stands out.
According to the official, the project is part of a dynamic of activating infrastructures in the global economy, through the collection of revenue resulting from the charging of concession fees to large international investors, resulting, so far, in the entry of 380 million dollars for the General State Budget (OGE).
He said that the extension of the Lobito Corridor to Zambia, through the Benguela Railway, makes it possible to promote employment, through the private sector, for the workforce of the different industries that can be created along the railway line.
He suggested that the Portuguese Government create a specific line of credit to support Portuguese companies that want to take advantage of the economic potential created by the Lobito Corridor.
As for the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, it was announced that commercial flight operations will begin on October 13th.
According to Paulo Nóbrega, Director of the Operational Office of the New Luanda International Airport, in charge of the presentation, October 13th was the date set for the start of operations, which will require a huge logistical effort to get everything working, so that the date is met.
Regarding this infrastructure, Minister Ricardo de Abreu said that one of the main objectives of the new airport is to make Angola an aviation hub between Europe and other intercontinental destinations, including Africa.
Currently, the main hub for aviation in Africa is based in Johannesburg, but the head of Transport believes that the fact that Angola is three hours closer to Europe could be decisive in boosting operations at the new Luanda International Airport. EJM/VC/DOJ
