Luanda – Angola’s minister of Economy and Planning Mário Augusto Caetano João Friday expressed the country’s interest in obtaining experiences from China in the creation and management of free zones and the training of staff.
Mário Caetano João said so at the end of an audience he granted to the Chinese ambassador to Angola, Gong Tao.
The meeting analysed issues such as public-private partnerships between the two countries, exchanges of experiences, intensification of staff training.
Angolans and the participation of the Asian giant in the Privatisation Programme (PROPRIV).
At the meeting, the possibility of having a China day was also discussed, during the Luanda International Fair (FILDA), to which this Asian country promises to bring the elite of those businessmen who wish to help Angola continue to develop.
As for the creation and management of free zones, the minister said that this country has a lot of experience in this field and it is an area of competitiveness that Angola is trying to develop.
On the training of Angolan staff, the official stressed that, during the meeting, they analysed the possibility of some members taking an annual training in China, as well as carrying out other training actions here in the country.
According to the minister, in terms of human capital, the aim is to see how the two countries could continue to intensify the training of Angolan staff.
In the field of training, Mário Caetano João also stressed that partnerships already exist, as he has already participated in a training and capacity building action for Angolan public sector staff in China.
“We would like to have a more specialised partner for what are the challenges of the Ministry of Economy and Planning. I have already participated in a three-week visit to China and I can say that this helps to substantially understand how far the two countries can go further”, said the minister of the Economy and Planning.
Public-private partnership
Regarding the public-private partnership, he noted that the two countries are still in the process of identifying projects, but he stressed that there are already some such as bridge construction and the possibility of China participating in the construction of more municipal markets to prevent Angolan women from selling their goods on public roads but in appropriate markets.
Exemption from export fees
According to the Angolan official, they also mentioned, during the meeting, the issue of the offer of duty-free and quota-free entry of Angolan products to China. On this matter, he said that it was a unilateral offer from that country.
Regarding the Chinese offer, he said that the Government will work with national businessmen to see products and quantities suitable for entering the Chinese market.
He also explained that in addition to the duty-free and fee-free offer, there are some sanitary measures and technical barriers that must be observed.
China’s needs
Representing the Chinese ambassador to Angola, who had to leave in an emergency after the meeting, the economic and commercial adviser of the embassy in Angola Lu Yuzhong said that during the meeting discussed matters about trade, investment, training of staff and more opportunities for cooperation.
On the other hand, he also mentioned that China needs more products from Angola, that is why it offers tax exemptions on the export of goods to his country.
He said that in addition to mineral resources, Angola already exports beer, juices and coffee to China, but they need more products, as the quantities are few.
Since 2007, Angola has become China’s largest trading partner in Africa, with a turnover estimated at US$24.8 billion in 2010 alone.
The Asian giant bought, between January and June 2022, goods worth USD 9.9 billion, equivalent to 47.8% of total national exports to the rest of the world.
Source: Angola Press News Agency