Day: December 9, 2022

Luanda – Angolan head of State João Lourenço Friday told the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) that combined effort was need to face challenges posed by international events.

The Angolan Statesman made the appeal at the opening of the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OACPS in Luanda.

João Lourenço said the organisation should not stay out of the actions that directly or indirectly affect some member countries.

In his speech, the president João Lourenço described the OACPS as a crucial political and diplomatic platform for bringing peoples and cultures closer together, and an “important actor” at the level of the global South.

He recalled the organisation’s role in building a world of peace, understanding and harmony among peoples.

The president also underlined the relevance of the OACPS in strengthening relations and in the “mutually beneficial exchange” with the organisation’s strategic partners.

He said that the international projection of the OACPS increases Angola’s responsibility within the organisation.

João Lourenço, who was speaking at the opening session of the event, scheduled to end today, praised the Republic of Kenya, “for good work” it had done while at the head of the organisation.

He highlighted the fact that the member states of the EU-ACP represent approximately one third of the world’s nations, spread over three continents.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – Angola’s potential in blue economy sector, particularly fisheries, was stressed on Friday by African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Josefa Sacko.

“The blue economy represents the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic development, better livelihoods and jobs, and the health of the ocean ecosystem,” Josefa Sacko has underlined.

Sacko was addressing the theme “The challenge of gender equality in the blue economy” at the “Forum on the participation of women in the blue economy”.

The topic is included in the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OEACP), held Friday in Luanda.

She spoke of the possibility for the country to take advantage of the blue economy to balance the diversification of the economy.

The official defended women empowerment throughout the value chain in order to join the process, ranging from fishing to sale process, as they are accounted for 27 percent in the fishing industry.

She said the summit will allow countries to align agendas, with stress to the climate issue and food security, hoping that the approaches will ensure the strengthening what is being done and accelerating ambitions.

On piracy, she said the AU has created centres of excellence in the five regions to work on maritime security and prevent the loss of money, currently estimated at 34 percent.

At the opening of the meeting, the Angolan minister for Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women (MASFAMU), Ana Paula do Sacramento Neto, stressed the importance of the event in raising awareness about gender and responding to the needs of women’s participation in issues involving the blue economy and climate change.

She said that the potential of women in boosting the economy of countries should be the focus on their empowerment as an efficient and safe way to ensure sustainable growth rates.

Women, she added, have played a leading role in the fight against some of the biggest environmental threats on the planet, from climate change to loss of biodiversity and pollution.

In the case of Angola, the official said, stress goes to the young environmentalist Fernanda René, who stands out as an example to be followed for her contribution to the environment, in the conservation of mangroves and flamingos.

The official recalled that the Angolan Government signed and ratified, at international and regional level, important Conventions related to women.

She referred to the Conventions about the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Beijing Action Platform, the Maputo Protocol, the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights, and the SADC Protocol about Gender and Development.

According to the official, these Conventions allowed the alignment of policies to guarantee women’s Human Rights and to assure the Equity and Gender equality.

She said that the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OACPS, in which Angola is expected to take over the presidency of the organisation, will crown the work that the country has been developing in recent years around the themes related to blue economy.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – Angolan minister of Justice and Human Rights Marcy Lopes reaffirmed Friday the country’s commitment to defence of human rights, in what he described as national strategy of the sector.

In his speech to mark Human Rights Day, the minister said that the national strategy of the sector is aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Marcy Lopes said that this reality calls for permanent evaluation of the actions related to human rights in the country’s municipalities.

At the meeting, held ahead of the 74th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to be celebrated on Saturday (10), the minister defended the preservation of these rights, the society’s commitment.

UN discourages trends against Human Rights

In her turn, the representative of the UN System Resident Coordinator in Angola, Mamisoa Rangers, who read a message from the organisation’s Secretary-General, António Guterres, discouraged the harmful trends to human rights.

UN representative considered human rights foundation of human dignity and the cornerstone of peaceful, inclusive, fair, egalitarian and prosperous societies.

The 74th anniversary celebrations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are running under the Motto “Dignity, Freedom and Justice for all”.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – The Secretary of the President of Republic for State Reform Pedro Fiete considered Friday the implementation of the “Simplifica” Project in the country suitable, in view of the significant progress being recorded.

Pedro Fiete was speaking at the end of his visit to General Secretariat and the One-Stop Public Service Desk (BUAP), in Cazenga municipality, Luanda, where he assessed the implementation of the measures of the project.

Fiete told the press that despite the positive results there are other challenges that must be overcome to ensure the observation and compliance with the measures by all stakeholders.

As for the compliance with the project’s measures, he pointed to Cazenga as a “positive model”, as it is observing the rules.

Despite the execution of project, he added that there are other challenges, such as the permanent mobilisation of employees, as well as disseminating information in the community.

“As we know, our administration has procedures, formalities, going back to more than 47 years and, from the outset, the change follows a gradual process”, he noted.

In turn, the municipal administrator of Cazenga, Tomás Bica, announced plans for the start of a wide dissemination campaign at the level of committees of residents, parents, guardians and associations, so that citizens are aware of the benefits in their lives.

The Simplification of Public Administration Acts and Procedures project (SIMPLIFICA), approved by Presidential Decree nº 161/21, of 21st June, aims to implement good practices in Central and Local Administration of the State.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – The executive secretary of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OEACP) Georges Chikoti Friday defended the reform of the UN and its agencies, aiming at a more inclusive and equitable world order.

This was at the opening ceremony of the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the EACP, taking place in Luanda.

Chikoti said that the same (reform) applies to other international bodies, including the World Trade Organisation.

At the ceremony, in which Angola takes over the rotating presidency of the OEACP for a three-year term, he also advocated the revision of the global financial architecture in order to ensure a simplified access to grants and aid resources.

Chikoti said it was essential that the Paris Agreement be revised and that developed countries should be obliged to contribute to the reduction of global warming by the end of this century.

He added that they must also urgently capitalise on the new loss and damage fund by delivering their outstanding billions of dollars by 2023, doubling adaptation finance and increased support for development and technology transfer.

According to the executive secretary, the ACP, in pursuit of achieving development goals, should mobilise resources, in collaboration with partners, to eradicate extreme poverty in member countries, as well as prevent and resolve conflicts for international stability.

He advised the promotion of cooperation among the 79 member states and diversified partnerships through south/south cooperation and building knowledge-based economies.

In turn, Kenya’s Vice President Rigathi Gachagua, whose country is ending its three-year term at the head of the EAPC, said there was need to review cooperation with the European Union.

He encouraged member countries’ unity in the face of the challenges arising from the socio-economic damage caused by Covid 19, climate change and international crises, and called on them all to honour their financial obligations so that the organisation could play its role in defending their common interests.

The Vice President of the Republic of Kenya encouraged the pursuit of economic diversification policies and the integration of Member States into the global chain to achieve prosperity.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – Angola pledges to mitigate the effects of climate change, good governance and transparency in its three-year term at the helm of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

The country’s commitment was expressed by the Head of State, João Lourenço, who said Angola will also focus, during its mandate, on the local production value of each member country, with the partnership of international institutions.

João Lourenço, who was addressing an opening session of the OACPS’s 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government on Friday in Luanda, said under the partnership with international institutions, it is crucial that Member States give priority to those that allow simplified access to their products to broader markets and with preferential tariffs.

“I think we will be able to walk towards a common target within a framework in which the three continents and the three oceans come together to build a resilient and sustainable OACPS”, stated the President of the Republic.

In his speech, João Lourenço defended working harder among the Member States, with a view to intensifying economic cooperation and the creation of mechanisms that make easier trade among them.

He highlighted that in the framework of the fight against poverty, the members of the organisation cannot fail to invest in programmes that guarantee food security and the resilience of the respective food systems.

Financial resources

At the Luanda meeting, President João Lourenço suggested the mobilisation of financial resources, technical means and scientific capacity to implement projects aimed at mitigating the consequences of climate change, especially in island countries.

He recalled that the OACPS has received support from its international partners, as well as monetary remittances from citizens staying oversea.

Conflict in Ukraine

During his speech, the Angolan Statesman said that the war in Ukraine, which started at least ten months ago, has worrying proportions and serious consequences.

He said that these were consequences on a material and human level and that there was a risk of taking on dimensions on a global scale.

The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States is an international organisation, resulting from the evolution of the ACP Group, which brings together 79 Member States from three continents.

“Three Continents, Three Oceans, a Common Destiny: Building a Resilient and Sustainable Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States” is the motto of this meeting.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – Angolan Business Confederation (CEA) will be temporarily managed by a management commission until the holding of the assembly for the election of the new board for the next five years term, announced Friday the vice-president of the transitional body, Adilson Neto.

The manager announced this at a press conference aimed to introduce the team that makes up the aforementioned commission.

Over the five years of existence the organisation had gone through several processes and will now move forward with a restructuring programme based on the reforms that have been happening in the country and, mainly, in the business sector.

He added that the CEA will continue to work with the Government and in the actions of the business sector to give dignity to this class and guarantee that businesspeople in Angola continue to have rights and together working for an Angola with which everyone can be proud.

In turn, the chairman of the management committee, Laurindo Miguel, said that the new management stems from an extended meeting, held at the end of last November, which served to take the organisation out of the lethargy and make it functional until the general meeting set for February 2023.

He noted that the objective of the confederation is the defence of the associates – composed by more than 46 members among associations, orders and cooperatives at national level.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, leaves Saturday for Washington to participate in the discussion on the perspectives of cooperation between the United States of America and the African continent.

According to the President’s press secretary, Luís Fernando, João Lourenço is responding to an invitation from President Joe Biden, made to a group of African Heads of State to discuss the perspectives of the US-Africa cooperation.

Luís Fernando added that there will be a very intense and vast four-day programme, with emphasis on the Business Forum in which Joe Biden and João Lourenço are scheduled to address the audience.

The Angolan statesman will participate in a dinner to be offered by the host president, Luis Fernando said, adding that the Angolan President is also expected to receive, in audience, senior figures of the U.S Administration, such as the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and businesspeople.

The Angolan statesman, the press secretary said, will be leading a delegation that includes several ministers who, in Washington, will participate in different panels.

Source: Angola Press News Agency