Luanda: Angola expects to achieve food security in the short and medium term, given the increase in national production, the country's president, Joo Louren§o, announced Wednesday in Luanda. Speaking to the press after the inauguration of a food oil factory, with a capacity to produce 1 million liters a day, Louren§o said that according to the information available, not only from documents and meetings at government level but also from "on the ground," in terms of agricultural production, the country is growing.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the President emphasized that Angola is progressing, although there remains work to be done. The focus is on increasing the quantity of production and improving product quality. A significant milestone has been reached as the country has stopped importing products such as onions and potatoes, which were previously brought in from neighboring countries like Namibia and South Africa.
Louren§o clarified that these products are now locally produced in Angola's interior regions and successfully reach large markets, particularly Luanda, which has the highest consumer concentration. Regarding economic support, Joo Louren§o stated that the government will continue to encourage economic agents. However, this does not imply that public investments will be made to facilitate private investments.
The President urged entrepreneurs to seek financial support from banks to acquire necessary logistics such as vans, trucks, and warehouses to store and distribute products from rural areas to urban markets.
In discussing the newly inaugurated project, the President indicated that the country is on the correct trajectory towards food security. While Angola currently imports cooking oil, the new plant is set to encourage local farmers to supply raw materials for refining.
Addressing the potential impact on cooking oil prices domestically, the President noted that increased supply could lead to reduced prices due to favorable supply-demand dynamics. The plant, owned by the Naval Group, is located near the port of Luanda and spans 89,000 square meters.
The industrial unit is capable of refining and processing 500 tons of palm oil, soya, sunflower, and other vegetable fats daily, aiming to become a leader in edible oils in Angola. Situated 700 meters from the port of Luanda, the factory occupies a site with a history of industrial activity from the colonial era. The facility, which created 850 direct jobs, began construction in 2023 and commenced production at the end of last year.
