Catete:The inaugural Expo Icolo e Bengo 2026, which was held from October 22 to 25 in the municipality of Catete, successfully generated 477 million kwanzas by the penultimate day, as announced by event organiser Leonilde Augusto.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the managing director of LD Eventos, responsible for organising the event, reported that most of the revenue originated from the catering sector. Restaurants at the expo sold an average of 20 units per day, with prices ranging from 500 to 10,000 kwanzas.
Leonilde Augusto expressed gratitude towards the Icolo e Bengo Provincial Government for initiating the expo and trusting the private sector to organize it, highlighting that such initiatives are crucial for the province's development. She expressed optimism for future events, hoping that the next edition would generate double the revenue of this year's event.
Provincial Governor Auzílio Jacob emphasized the growing significance of Icolo e Bengo among the nation's 21 provinces. He identified key sectors such as agriculture, livestock farming, health, energy and water, and tourism. Due to the demand witnessed at this year's edition, he announced plans to host the expo in a larger and more comfortable venue in 2027. He encouraged entrepreneurs to invest in the province and create business opportunities.
The expo's final day was dedicated to family interaction. The event took place across a total area of 250,000 square metres, including 200,000 square metres of indoor exhibition halls and 50,000 square metres of open-air space. Under the theme 'Connecting Investments, Driving Development,' the expo attracted over 250 exhibitors from Angola and abroad.
