Speaking to Lusa, the Brazilian ambassador to Angola, Rafael Vidal, stressed that "there was an important resumption of bilateral flows" which returned to the level of 1.5 billion dollars, the pre-pandemic average value, and which had fallen to around 600 million dollars in 2021.
The diplomat also noted that Angolan exports surpassed those of Brazil, with the Latin American country exporting 700 million dollars (mainly machinery and equipment and agro-food products), while Angola sold 800 million dollars to its partner on the other side of the Atlantic.
"For the first time, we had an important increase in Angolan participation in this trade, especially in the area of energy (petroleum products)", "good news in the sense of a rebalancing of the trade balance that was previously 95 percent favorable to Brazil and which will be related to changes in Ukraine's post-war international trade," he suggested.
The ambassador also took stock of the results of the last joint commission held between Angola and Brazil - the 7th, held in Brasília at the beginning of April - highlighting the signing of agreements in the aviation area that avoid double taxation of air transport and open path to the operation of airlines such as LATAM and the opening of new routes in South America for TAAG, from Brazil.
"It is good for the bilateral relationship, as it increases the bridges between Brazil and Angola", continued Rafael Vidal, adding that one of the major obstacles to the expansion of this market was precisely the double taxation that increased costs.
"The market between countries is very strong and is growing, the demand is very large not only in direct lines, but also in connections, in 'hubs' and for cargo as well, in air transport it is fundamental, especially for perishable cargo ", he told Lusa.
Angola and Brazil also discussed the implementation of the cooperation agreement for irrigated agriculture and family farming in the Cunene Valley (south of Angola) where the Brazilian Government wants to replicate the model of the São Francisco Valley (a region located between the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia and Pernambuco, which became an important fruit and vegetable producer).
"The opening of credit lines for development actions by the bilateral management committee in the Cunene Valley was discussed, both in terms of public initiatives and the private sector. its execution, in line with the new foreign policy of the Brazilian Government and the expectations of the Government and President João Lourenço regarding the expansion of the country's productive base", he added.
In the area of health, an agreement was signed to expand the areas of cooperation in public policies, namely in HIV prevention and breast milk banks.
The foundations were also laid for an agreement in the area of maritime transport, which the Brazilian diplomat believes could be signed during President Lula da Silva's visit to the African country, scheduled for August.
