Luanda - Angola and the United States of America signed Friday in Luanda, a memorandum of understanding on scientific and technological cooperation for the sustainable management of marine resources in the Atlantic Ocean, with emphasis on the use of the scientific research vessel Baía Farta owned by the Angolan State.
The memo was signed by the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Angola, Carmen do sacramento Neto, and the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee.
It is expected to promote joint investigations into marine resources, the technical and scientific training of Angolan experts, and the development and implementation of strategies for the sustainable management of Atlantic Ocean resources.
On the occasion, Angola’s Foreign Affairs minister, Téte António, said the memo is part of the management of maritime resources, with Angola taking a comprehensive approach towards the blue economy, which, in fact, brings added value and feeds maritime security.
“If we have the capacity to know what we have at sea and explore, we will also have the capacity to finance even our own maritime security”, the Angolan minister said.
Téte António mentioned that the capabilities that the country developed with the ship Baía Farta are an added value to complete the knowledge that will be able to be shared with scientists in the United States of America.
The head of Angolan diplomacy also recalled that the two countries still have the telecommunications agreement to sign, which is already in the final stages with NASA.
“We think it is a rich package, around President Biden’s visit. From the point of view of the signed instruments, it can be said that the relations, outside of the subject much debated this week, which is the Lobito Corridor, will extend to other areas, including agriculture” the minister said.
The diplomat added that the agreements complete the package of the relationship that is desired with the United States, so that it can move into concrete acts.
US undersecretary for African affairs, Molly Phee, on her turn expressed satisfaction with the partnership, as it represents a change in cooperation to develop Angola and the Southern African region.
The US official stressed that today a new chapter has begun in terms of efforts towards good marine management of the existing marine resources in Angola and that her country will help improve and expand scientific and technological resources.
Molly Phee said the US is currently working with Angola’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to develop and expand the technological and scientific approach, in order to take significant steps towards safeguarding marine species.FMA/ART/AMP
