Speaking this Tuesday at the opening of the IX extended advisory council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, João Lourenço stressed that diplomacy in recent years has been focused on raising the awareness of Governments, public entities in matters of cooperation, businessmen and potential investors, to mobilize financing, attracting private investment, strengthening cooperation and partnerships, as well as repositioning Angola in the context of Africa and the world.
According to João Lourenço, this effort is part of the strategy to promote Angola's economic and social development, by attracting direct foreign investment in the national economy, through which they intend to diversify the economy, increase the internal production of goods and services, exports, create more jobs and improve the living conditions of the population.
The head of state highlighted that, despite the covid-19 pandemic having limited for about two years, the results that were intended to be achieved, little by little international partners "have focused their attention" on the Angolan market, "following the improvement significant impact of the business environment that today is more favorable to private investment".
"Our diplomatic and consular missions must pay particular attention to economic diplomacy, publicizing our country's great economic potential in a targeted manner, the great economic potential of our country, the legislation passed in recent years to remove or reduce bureaucracy and other obstacles, combat that has been fought against corruption and impunity, the privatization program of important State assets through public tender and other important measures already taken and which are giving positive results", appealed João Lourenço.
To the Angolan embassies, the President urged work to attract investors in all areas of the Angolan economy, highlight the country's agricultural potential, "which in this food crisis can contribute to reducing the deficit, increasing the production of food to be exported", as well as highlight Angola's energy potential, capacity to export green hydrogen and to produce batteries for electric cars as a contribution to reducing carbon emissions.
Through Angolan diplomats, added João Lourenço, "the world needs to know that Angola has joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and that investors thus have a greater guarantee of transparency in the granting of exploration, production and commercialization licenses for all our mineral resources".
João Lourenço also asked for facilitation in the process of issuing visas for businessmen and all foreign citizens who intend to do tourism or get to know Angola.
"This is a fundamental condition for the necessary opening of the country to foreign direct investment and international tourism", he said, adding that "the coming or not of the big hotel chains and the big international tour operators depends a lot on the good or bad work done by you, from whom we have an obligation to demand results and hold them accountable".
Regarding the ambassadors, the head of state said that the diplomatic rotation should be done regularly, including the return to the central body, also extended to diplomats of other categories and technical personnel performing duties abroad.
"Between two missions abroad, while waiting for the next mission, ambassadors must work in the ministry, be busy in different directions or give lectures at the diplomatic academy to convey their experience," he said.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance should be more concerned with taking care of Angola's assets abroad, especially the existing real estate assets, such as chancellery buildings, residences for employees, land for construction, whose works sometimes take years to get off the ground, recommended João Lourenço.
Responsible and parsimonious management of resources allocated to embassies is another of the President's guidelines for ambassadors in the exercise of their functions and obligations with the host State, "avoiding behavior that tarnishes the good name and reputation of the Republic of Angola".
