Luanda: Angolan Minister of Industry and Commerce Rui Miguªs de Oliveira inaugurated a glass container manufacturing plant named "Cristal Azul" today in the municipality of Barra do Dande, in the northern province of Bengo. The facility, located in the Sino-Ord Industrial Park, boasts a production capacity of 60,000 tons of glass per year, equivalent to 800,000 bottles daily, and represents a $45 million investment.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the Cristal Azul factory will produce glass containers for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as other sectors that use glass packaging. Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Industry and Commerce highlighted that the launch of Cristal Azul marks a significant step for the agri-food industry's supply chain, ensuring local production of glass packaging that meets international quality standards.
Rui Miguªs de Oliveira emphasized the government's commitment to creating conditions that facilitate economic diversification, translating into productive investments that generate wealth, create jobs, increase exports, and drive sustainable development. He expressed satisfaction with the creation of 220 direct jobs, mostly held by Angolans, while noting the presence of Chinese technicians for technical support, equipment installation, and knowledge transfer.
According to Rui Miguªs de Oliveira, investments of this magnitude reflect foreign investors' confidence in Angola's economic potential and reinforce policies focused on industrialization, import substitution, and the promotion of domestic production. He noted that the start of production allows domestic companies to benefit from a local supplier of glass containers, reducing procurement costs and delivery times while decreasing reliance on foreign markets.
The Minister believes that the new factory will enhance the competitiveness of domestic companies, strengthen the manufacturing value chain, and encourage further investment in the sector. He expressed gratitude to the Sino Ord Group for its commitment to the Angolan economy and affirmed that Angola remains open to investment and business.
The Sino Ord complex currently hosts 17 companies and employs 2,900 workers, with projections to exceed 5,000 employees by 2027 as new industrial projects come online and existing facilities expand.
