Luanda: An Angola-Botswana Economic Forum will take place in Luanda on Tuesday to deepen economic and business relations between the two countries. The event forms part of the three-day official visit to Angola by the President of Botswana, Duma Gideon Boko, within the framework of strengthening bilateral cooperation.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX) stated in a press release that the initiative aims to enhance economic cooperation, promote business exchanges, and identify new investment opportunities between the two states. The forum will bring together representatives of public institutions, investors, and business leaders from both countries to discuss investment opportunities, bilateral trade, and the establishment of new business partnerships. The programme will also include networking sessions and business meetings.
The Botswana business delegation comprises operators from the agribusiness, mining, tourism, transport, and logistics sectors, who are interested in exploring opportunities in the Angolan market and establishing contacts with local companies. The organisation of the forum is part of broader efforts to stimulate economic relations between Angola and Botswana and encourage greater private-sector participation in bilateral cooperation.
Economic cooperation between Angola and Botswana has intensified in recent years, highlighted by the holding of the 1st Session of the Bilateral Commission in Luanda, nearly five decades after the establishment of this cooperation mechanism. The meeting enabled both sides to assess the state of bilateral relations and prepare new legal instruments aimed at strengthening and diversifying cooperation between the two countries.
The areas identified as having significant potential for enhanced cooperation include agriculture, livestock farming, energy, mining, tourism, transport, logistics, environmental protection, and food security. The diamond sector is also considered an area of mutual interest, given Botswana's extensive experience in the industry and Angola's position among Africa's leading diamond producers. Cooperation in tourism may also encompass nature conservation, national park management, and the promotion of sustainable tourism, sectors in which both countries possess complementary experience and potential.
