Luena – The business people who attended the 1st Angola/Zambia business forum highlighted the tourism potentials of the Angolan region of the Okavango basin, which after its transformation can become one of the country’s main destinations stimulating the emergence of hotels, tourism, conservation, restaurants and agribusiness.
The recognition is part of the final communiqué of the First Angola/Zambia Business Forum, which was attended by 154 businesspeople from both countries, highlighting the Okavango-Zambezi regional initiative, which covers approximately 367,000 km² in the provinces of Huambo, Bié, Huíla, Moxico , Cuando Cubango and Cunene.
The participants also pointed out the importance of the Lobito Corridor, which was one of the topics addressed at the event considering its great potential to improve transport, logistics and access to public services.
According to the delegates, with the entry into operation of the Lobito Corridor, it will help for the better use of the agreement on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which plans to connect of about 1.3 billion people in 55 countries and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 3.4 trillion with the potential to lift more than 30 million people out of extreme poverty.
In this regard, Zambia western province is highlighted as a “natural partner” taking into account its strategic location, resources and infrastructures under development, which makes it possible trade between the borders, as well as partners in the fields of agriculture, mining, renewable energy, tourism, fisheries and agro-food processing.
“A reality that finds parallels in the province of Moxico, which stands out for its strategic location as a connection point between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia with the Atlantic Ocean”, reads the statement.
The First Angola/Zambia Business Forum was attended by 54 Zambian businesspeople and more than 100 Angolans.
ISAL/YD/MRA/AMP
