Dombe Grande Tomato Processing Plant Marks Economic Turning Point for Angola: Minister

Dombe grande: The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rui Miguêns de Oliveira, stated on Saturday, that the inauguration of the tomato processing plant in the municipality of Dombe Grande, province of Benguela, represents a new chapter in local production and the industrialization of the country. According to Angola Press News Agency, the infrastructure, installed in the Dombe Grande warehouse Park, is the result of a private investment by the business group led by engineer Adérito Areias, valued at approximately USD 3.5 million. This investment was applied with own funds in the structural and technological rehabilitation of part of the industrial complex and the storage chambers. In an initial phase, the unit will have the capacity to process up to 120 tons of tomatoes per day, which corresponds to an estimated annual need of approximately 30,000 tons of raw material, mostly from local production. Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, José de Lima Massano, the Minister of In dustry and Commerce stressed that the factory will allow the transformation of quality tomatoes produced in the region into high value-added industrial products, with a direct impact on job creation, the relaunch of the economy of Dombe Grande and the development of the province of Benguela and the country. According to the government official, the project demonstrates a commitment to agricultural development, the appreciation of rural producers, and increased productivity. It fits into the strategy of the Executive led by the President of the Republic, Joo Lourenço, which aims at national industrialization, economic diversification, and the reduction of external dependence. He said that the unit materializes the objectives of the Angolan Industrial Development Plan (PDIA) 2025, which aims to reduce the import of widely consumed food products, increase national production with greater incorporation of local value, strengthen the competitiveness of industry, and promote decent employment, mainly for young pe ople and women. Rui Miguêns de Oliveira also recalled Presidential Decree No. 213/23, of Oct 30, which establishes the legal framework for incentivizing national production, creating mechanisms to foster Angolan entrepreneurship, facilitate access to credit, and ensure greater integration of national products into supply chains. Among the instruments supporting the productive sector, he mentioned the Agricultural Development Support Fund (FADA), the Angolan Active Venture Capital Fund (FACRA), and the Development Bank of Angola (BDA), in addition to the role of the private financial sector and the promotion of consortia and cooperatives. He appealed to the beverage industry to increase the consumption of national fruit pulps, arguing that the country should not waste agricultural production when there is industrial capacity available. According to the minister, projects like the one in Dombe Grande also have a significant social impact, creating job opportunities and allowing young graduates from the regi on to find opportunities to build their future in their homeland. He added that industrialization contributes to the stability of food prices, strengthens the purchasing power of families, and reinforces national food security. "Industrialization is not just an economic option, but a strategic choice for sovereignty, social stability, and guaranteeing the future of the next generations," he stated. The Minister also congratulated the project promoters and reiterated the Angolan Executive's commitment to supporting similar initiatives so that they multiply throughout the national territory.