Bangkok:The Governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA), Manuel Tiago Dias, has reaffirmed the institution's dedication to advancing reforms in the country's foreign exchange market. These reforms aim to enhance the flexibility of the exchange rate, thereby bolstering Angola's capacity to manage external economic shocks.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Dias made this statement during a meeting with the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) African Department, held on the margins of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Bangkok, Thailand. He highlighted the significant progress in Angola's external sector, marked by positive balances in the goods account, which have strengthened the nation's international reserves.
Dias projected that Angola's international reserves would reach USD 16.5 billion by the year's end, providing approximately eight months of import cover. This increase is expected to be supported by financing disbursements to the National Treasury and anticipated cash repayments from the IMF.
The governor also discussed the BNA's ongoing transition towards an inflation-targeting regime, with IMF technical support for improving monetary policy tools like open market operations. He noted that inflation is expected to be 8.4% this year and to remain in single digits next year, around 7%.
Dias emphasized that maintaining low inflation levels aligns with the best practices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and improves Angola's attractiveness to foreign direct investment (FDI). He observed that FDI has been recovering since the third quarter of 2025, following a period of negative trends.
During the World Bank and IMF meetings, participants addressed key global economic challenges and the pursuit of sustainable and inclusive growth. Discussions encompassed private capital mobilization, job creation, technological innovation, and economic resilience.
Angola's delegation, led by Secretary of State for Planning Luís Epalanga, included BNA Governor Manuel Tiago Dias and Secretary of State for Finance and the Treasury Ottoniel dos Santos, among other officials. The event was themed 'Thailand's New Horizons Empowering People, Building Resilience.'
