Luanda - The Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in Angola organised a fair in Luanda Tuesday to promote educational and professional opportunities for Angolans.
The event, now in its second edition, includes the participation of several US universities and companies that work in Angola in various sectors, from health to mineral extraction and oil exploration.
The US FAIR 2024 brought together hundreds of young students from various public and private educational institutions, making it possible for them to exchange ideas and to find out about opportunities to obtain scholarships to American universities.
During the opening of the event, the chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Angola, James Story, said that the event would create economic and educational opportunities for the Angolan and American people, building bridges that would lead to common prosperity.
In this context, Story said that more than 70 American companies were working in Angola, with large investments and job opportunities.
As such, he considered the country to be a strategic partner, a fact that leads to investment in initiatives such as Prosper Africa, which facilitates billions of dollars in private sector business, with Boeing's 3.6 billion dollar agreement with TAAG as an example.
He also highlighted the investment of 40 million dollars to modernise Rádio Nacional de Angola (RNA), so that it reaches 95 percent of the Angolan population, helping Angolans to stay connected and informed.
He also mentioned the support given to health with programmes to combat malaria and HIV/AIDS, as part of the bilateral partnership, as well as encouraging a spirit of innovation through various exchange programmes.
The chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Angola also highlighted cooperation in the education sector, with reference to the EducationUSA programme, which offers educational advice and supports more than 500 students every year in Angola, guiding them through the complexities of the US education system.
He also pointed to the offer of personalised assistance with university applications, scholarships and the visa process to ensure that students are well prepared for their academic journey.
‘Over 600 Angolan students are currently attending higher education institutions in the United States,’ he emphasised.
Still within the framework of cooperation between the two countries, diplomat James Story emphasised that entrepreneurship drives prosperity, and that entrepreneurs play a fundamental role in finding solutions, promoting innovation and creating jobs.
The Minister for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESCTI), Paula Regina Simões de Oliveira, said that the event, which is full of meaning and impact for Angolan youth, strengthens relations between Angola and the US, offering a unique opportunity for students and their families to explore the possibility of study, as well as exchanges with some of the most prestigious universities in the US.
She also said that the fair also served as a platform for clarifying essential issues such as the scholarship application process, facilitating the academic journey of many students.
She then emphasised that the moment goes far beyond education, thus strengthening the bonds of cooperation between the two peoples when it comes to passing on knowledge, culture, ideas and entrepreneurship.
In this context, he said that since 2019 the ministry has been working with the American diplomatic representation to promote higher education training and exchange, as well as its practices, through visits, exchanges and conferences.
The president of the National Association of Private Education, António Pacavira, said that cooperation with the American embassy brings a range of substantial benefits to the private education system in Angola.
In this context, he highlighted the exchange and professional development that gives teachers and students the opportunity to visit the US and get to know its education system.
He also mentioned that through the cooperation more than 60 students are attending higher education in the United States, a programme that is intended to be expanded, also giving teachers opportunities to specialise. ANM/SEC/DAN/DOJ
