The official, who was speaking as a spokesman for the three national mills, said that Grandes Moagens de Angola, Kikolo Moagens and Carrinho Indústrias are operating "normally and there is no risk of lack of product on the market.
Cited in a statement sent to VerAngola, César Rasgado noted that the three companies together "have installed capacity for processing 60,000 tons of wheat flour per month.
According to Rasgado, the three mills employ more than 400 people directly and have created, so far, more than 1000 indirect jobs, contributing for the country to "substantially reduce the need for imports of processed flour, as well as the spending of its foreign currency, while betting on the qualification of national staff".
He explained that because they have "bet on a long-term strategy" that the three units have worked daily so that the national market does not register "unnecessary or exorbitant speculation of the price of wheat flour".
"It is true that the price of wheat, fixed internationally, has been suffering upward pressures in recent months - a situation aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic - and that the increase in sea freight rates has also had negative repercussions on prices. But, being the wheat flour produced in Angola, we are able to have a better control over the distribution and over the prices charged, adjusting the price only according to the raw material purchase cost and its transportation", he explained.
About the price of imported flour, César Rasgado clarified that "the costs that influence the increase of the national flour (wheat value and transportation), are equally incorporated in the final price of imported flour, besides other factors, so the wheat flour produced in Angola reaches the market with a more advantageous price".
He also added that the three mills are equipped with "the most modern technologies" and are "aligned with the best international practices, and with the daily consumption needs in Angola.
"Producing at full capacity and without obstacles to the acquisition of wheat abroad, these three companies can ensure the country's total needs - estimated at 600,000 tons/year - since together they produce 720,000 tons annually," he said.
