Beijing – Angolan president João Lourenço, on Saturday in Beijing, invited Chinese businesspeople to invest in the Lobito Corridor in the production of foodstuffs, cereals and grains, sugar, farming and fisheries.
The Head of State, who was opening the "Angola-China Business Forum", also pointed to the battery production industry for the manufacture of electric cars, photovoltaic panels for solar energy, tourism and other sectors of the economy as areas to be counted on.
João Lourenço called for investments in factories producing certified medicines and vaccines, whose main client will be the Angolan state, to feed the National Health System, whose network of public hospitals has been growing significantly every year.
Lourenço said Angola intends to attract Chinese investors who will bring not only financial capital and advanced technology, but also "know-how" to make it possible to increase efficiency in the domestic production of goods and services.
"We are counting on Chinese investors to help us diversify our economy by increasing the domestic supply of goods and services with the 'Made in Angola' label, which will contribute to a significant increase in export goods and contribute to a substantial increase in the supply of jobs, that will reduce the current unemployment rate in Angola," Lourenço said.
The president recalled that Angola is building in Lobito city, the largest oil refinery that will be associated with the important petrochemical industry, emphasizing that Chinese entrepreneurs are invited to invest in this great project as shareholders from the construction phase onwards.
Privatization
The statesman pointed out that Angola has a number of public companies and assets available that are in the process of total or partial privatization, linked to the oil sector, banking and insurance, telecommunications, large agricultural farms and important industries.
To this end, Lourenço invited Chinese business people to take part in international tenders for the acquisition of these assets, as well as for the realization of projects within the framework of public-private partnerships.
Lourenço added that a Public-Private Partnerships law has been approved and regulated and that various international public tenders are being prepared for the construction of important infrastructures, related to the production of hydroelectric or photovoltaic energy and the respective energy transport networks.
The Angolan leader also mentioned the construction of national roads and bridges, especially the roads or motorways linking Angola to neighboring countries, adding that Chinese companies should embrace the enormous business opportunities that the country offers and thus be able to enjoy the environment of stability and security that prevails in Angola.
"We want you to cooperate with us in the process of transforming Angola into a prosperous and modern country, capable of providing its people with the best living conditions," Lourenço said.
Since Thursday in Beijing for a 72-hour state visit to the People's Republic of China, the Angolan President has taken part in three high-level meetings, namely with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, the Prime Minister, Li Qiang, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Assembly (Parliament), Zhao Leji.
The two states have a long history of cooperation based on different areas such as oil, health, infrastructure and staff training, among others.
Angola and China are strategic partners, with political-diplomatic relations and cooperation that have grown significantly since 2000, leading to the signing of various legal instruments in the social, commercial and business fields.FMA/VIC/MRA/AMP
