In an interview with Agência Lusa, Manuel Arnaldo Calado said that the number of Chinese businessmen present in Angola has decreased since the end of last year, and imports are also being affected
According to the businessman, the epidemic coincided with the Christmas and New Year's Eve parties, so many "ended up staying there".
"With this, also the investments and financing that were planned for the first quarter of this year are blocked," said the head of the Angola-China Chamber of Commerce (CCAC).
Asked about the situation of imports of products from China, the country that leads the list of Angolan imports, the businessman said he is being very affected, because everything comes from the Asian country.
"I don't know of any product that is in Angola or has been in Angola that China doesn't have to offer. We really need China because it provides everything from the cheapest to the most expensive," he said.
In this sense, all sectors of the national economy are being affected, further aggravating the "high level of unemployment" that Angola is currently experiencing.
Manuel Arnaldo Calado admitted that due to the situation, the Chinese community in Angola has been suffering some discrimination, a phenomenon that is global.
"It may be more relieved in Angola, but we are also suffering," admitted the president of the Angola-China Chamber of Commerce, recalling that many Chinese and Angolans are subjected to quarantine in the country.
"Every day there are new numbers, I cannot (say how many), but most people, Angolans and Chinese, have been quarantined (...) they did not like it, but they stayed," he said.
Since March 3, foreign citizens or non-residents in Angola from China, South Korea, Italy and Iran have been banned from entering national territory, while Angolans or foreign residents will have to be quarantined for at least 14 days.
"Minimizing the negative impact that this tragedy has brought," is now the main challenge for Manuel Arnaldo Calado, and this is the work that the CCAC has been trying to do.
China is the country that leads the list of imports from Angola, followed by Portugal, and is also the main destination for Angolan exports.
Oil, the basis of Angolan revenues, is the main product acquired by that Asian state.
