Luau: Angola is consolidating an economic growth trajectory marked by structural transformation and resilience, according to Rui de Oliveira, the Minister of Commerce and Industry. Speaking at the Ministry's sixth Consultative Council meeting in Luau, Moxico province, the minister highlighted the country's ongoing economic evolution.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the minister noted that Angola's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) realized real growth of 3.13% in 2025, with significant contributions from the non-oil sector, which expanded by 5.11%. More recently, in the first quarter of 2026, GDP saw a year-on-year increase of 5.32%, driven primarily by a 6.22% growth in the non-oil economy. In contrast, the oil sector experienced a slight contraction of 0.21%.
In 2025, agriculture, livestock, and forestry led economic activities, contributing 23.06% to GDP. Trade and vehicle repair followed at 19.27%, while the manufacturing industry represented 6.84% of GDP, growing by 10.50% and adding 0.69 percentage points to overall economic growth. The first quarter of 2026 reinforced this trend, with the non-oil sector continuing its significant contribution to GDP growth.
The minister emphasized that the production structure is evolving, with agriculture, livestock, and forestry maintaining the largest share of nominal GDP at 20.52%, followed by trade at 18.76%. The manufacturing industry, although accounting for 6.18% of GDP, showed a positive trend with 7.32% year-on-year growth, while the trade sector grew by 2.21%.
These developments suggest Angola is expanding its growth engines, fortifying its productive base, and advancing towards a diversified economy less reliant on international oil market fluctuations. The minister stressed the importance of viewing agriculture, trade, and manufacturing in an integrated manner to enhance the productive base, value addition, and market access, enabling efficient and competitive production flows.
He noted that Angola has managed to counterbalance the decline in the oil sector through non-oil economy growth, with agriculture and manufacturing now accounting for nearly 50% of GDP. The minister credited domestic production incentives, national producer protection measures, and tools provided to all economic sectors as pivotal to this growth.
The minister also highlighted the Executive's commitment to engaging the banking sector, which holds the largest financial assets, to ensure the consolidation and strengthening of the economy's structural transformation. The focus will be on bolstering micro, small, and medium-sized entrepreneurs and supporting large national producers in agriculture and industrial sectors.
The two-day Consultative Council of the Ministry of Trade and Industry gathers government officials, business leaders, institutional partners, and experts from various economic sectors to further discuss these developments.
