On the occasion, Victor Fernandes considered that the appearance of this line represents "an added value" for the national economy, "as it is a demonstration that the business environment is conducive to these and other investments".
The minister – in statements to the press, cited by Angop – said that it was still not possible to carry out an assessment of the activity of the line that would allow generating self-sufficiency in terms of milk production, having also referred that more than half (90 per cent) of the dairy products consumed by Angolans come from imports, a scenario that hopes to see changed with the partnership between Refriango and Pascual.
Thus, quoted in a communiqué from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, to which VerAngola had access, the minister indicated that the said partnership will serve "to ensure that part of the importation of this product is no longer made, since production will be local, which will also make prices more affordable for consumers".
Already, Diogo Caldas, responsible for Refriango, indicated that the partnership with Pascual has lasted for two years. "Initially with the distribution of imported yoghurts and now with the production and distribution of UHT milk and powdered milk", reads the ministry's communiqué.
In turn, the International Director of Pascual, Tomás Meléndez, signaled that the partnership with Refriango "was possible given its dimension, since it encompasses all the components for the development of this business in Angola".
He also added that they chose Angola because it was "a stable country with a mostly young population", adds the statement.
According to the note, the aforementioned production line, which involved an investment of 5 million dollars, has an "installed capacity of 20,000 liters per hour and has generated 150 jobs".
