According to a European Union press release, the project, which will run until 2025, will be led by the National Institute of Support for Small and Medium Enterprises (INAPEM), which is responsible for encouraging and expanding access for micro, small and medium enterprises. and medium-sized companies to financial services.
The project provides for the training and qualification of all the actors involved, namely micro, small and medium-sized companies, commercial banks, the judicial system, among others, through the establishment of a structured public-private dialogue.
"Aimed at the agents that operate in business dynamics, this program aims, on the one hand, to strengthen the capacity of the economic dynamizing agents in the diversification of financial services and in the creation of innovative financial instruments and, on the other hand, to increase the improvement of the inclusive use of these more diversified and innovative financial services with micro, small and medium-sized companies, women, young people and rural populations ", the note said.
The partnership counts on the technical support of IAPMEI and the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (IPS) in promoting a set of activities, such as training and awareness-raising activities, development of management support instruments, thematic events aimed at the public and private sector, awareness campaigns to increase financial literacy, among others.
The document emphasizes that currently the private sector and micro, small and medium-sized companies face several challenges in the exercise of their activity, namely bureaucratic barriers to the creation of a business, limited access to finance and credit, insufficient infrastructure, low level of qualification of human resources and difficulties in accessing foreign currency.
The European Union ambassador to Angola, Jeannette Seppen, cited in the note, underlined that the project "is part of the joint effort of the European Union and the Angolan Government to generate jobs and added value for the country, which needs to mobilize all instruments , from human capital to sources of financing to boost the business environment in Angola ".
In turn, the president of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal, Pedro Dominguinhos, said that the institution he runs is strongly committed to this project, for which "he hopes to contribute to the strengthening of the skills of Angolan staff and to the dynamism of the entrepreneurial culture and the creation of companies in Angola ".
The Portuguese Deputy State and Economy Secretary, João Neves, also mentioned in the note, stressed the importance of the project, which "will bring significant progress both in terms of institutional training and cooperation, and in terms of access by micro, small and medium-sized companies. companies to new, more diversified, innovative and inclusive financial services ".
Francisco Sá, president of the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (IAPMEI), considered the project "a valuable opportunity to share experiences and work methodologies, contributing to the institutional enrichment of strengthening cooperation between all involved".
