Luanda: Angola and Italy have decided to reactivate their parliamentary friendship groups to enhance institutional relations and foster closer cooperation between their parliaments. This decision was made during a meeting in Luanda between Ado de Almeida, the President of the National Assembly, and Marco Ricci, the Italian ambassador.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the meeting provided an opportunity for the Italian ambassador to congratulate the National Assembly president on his new role and convey greetings from his Italian counterpart. The ambassador emphasized the robust and longstanding relations between Angola and Italy, which he described as being rooted in a "very good" history of friendship and cooperation.
The Italian support for Angola dates back to before its independence, with Italy being the only Western European country to recognize Angola's independence on November 11, 1975. Over the years, this historical relationship has fostered significant partnerships in political, economic, and human domains, with trade between the two nations reaching approximately 200 million euros in 2024, the most recent year for which official data is available.
Marco Ricci expressed optimism about the future growth of this trade volume, highlighting the energy sector as a key area of Italian presence in Angola. He noted that the Italian oil company ENI has been active in Angola since the early years of independence and now operates in partnership with BP, making it one of the leading oil and gas producers in the country.
The ambassador also spoke about the Mattei Plan, an initiative by the Italian government aimed at boosting cooperation with priority African countries, including Angola. New cooperation projects are expected to be launched in Angola this year to further strengthen the bilateral partnership and create new opportunities for economic development.
Relations between the two countries are strategically focused on economic diversification, energy, and infrastructure. Italy is a significant trading partner with investments in the Lobito Corridor and sectors such as oil, health, and agriculture.
