Luanda - Brazil intends to resume financing lines and invest in the transfer of agricultural and industrial production technologies in Angola to re-launch the strategic partnership between the two countries, Brazil’s minister of Agriculture and Livestock Carlos Fávaro said Friday.
Speaking at the end of an audience granted by the Angolan president João Lourenço, the Brazilian minister said Angola has always honored its financial commitments to his country, stressing that there are no reasons not to continue with financing lines, investments in technology, economic development, partnerships and industrialization with its African partner.
According to Carlos Fávaro, Lula da Silva's return to the presidency of Brazil allows the resumption of a “so positive” agenda, of friendship and commercial ties with Angola.
The minister highlighted the fact that several delegations from his country, including the Brazilian Head of State, Lula da Silva, have traveled to Angola to sign agreements in different areas, as well as the participation of President João Lourenço in the G20 Summit, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, at the invitation of the Brazilian counterpart.
The Brazilian official recalled that the “Lava Jato” operation, with the political rhetoric created, caused Brazil to stop providing external financing.
Carlos Fávaro recognized that Angola has always been a great partner of Brazil, highlighting that President Lula's desire is to resume these financing lines, investing in the transfer of technology, agricultural production, water and industry and to expand its export to Angola and vice versa.
The minister underlined that Brazil has become a major food producer for itself and the world in the last 50 years and that the same characteristics have been found here in Angola and that it worked in Brazil and it will also work here in Angola.
Carlos Fávaro, who is in Luanda to participate in the Agro Angola-Brazil Business Forum, is accompanied by a vast delegation that includes officials from Embrapa, a public institution for research, development and innovation in the agriculture field, from Apex (Brazilian company for the promotion of exports and investments), Banco do Brasil (the largest public bank in that country) and businesspeople from different sectors.
“So that we can expand commercial opportunities, President Lula determines that good commercial relations are about buying and selling, technology transfer and mutual growth, so this is the message I came to bring to President João Lourenço”, he concluded.
Bilateral cooperation
Cooperation between Angola and Brazil began to take shape on June 11, 1980, with the signing of the Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement. Brazil was the first country in the world to recognize Angola's independence, proclaimed on November 11, 1975.
In 2010, bilateral relations were elevated to the level of strategic partnership. On the African continent, Brazil maintains a mechanism of this level only with Angola and South Africa. The partnership is coordinated and implemented by the High-Level Bilateral Commission.
Angola is one of Brazil's main trading partners on the African continent. In 2021, Brazilian exports to Angola reached 408 million US dollars and imports reached 169 million US dollars. Brazil's exports to Angola include meat (15%), refined sugar (10%) and vehicles (10%). Imports consist of oil (72%) and natural gas (27%).
In 2022, trade volume between the two countries reached around 700 million US dollars. The largest Brazilian community on the African continent resides in Angola, estimated at around 15,000 people. DC/ART/TED/AMP
