"We have economic relationships that are intense, even though they are still far from fulfilling their potential. When we talk about solid relationships, we mean permanent relationships, well anchored in feelings of closeness and the awareness of having lived together a lot. us, but as happens in all good marriages, we must always be attentive and available to learn and deepen. This is the path we must walk together", said João Gomes Cravinho, at the closing session of the Portugal-Angola Economic Forum, which took place today in Porto.
On the sidelines of the forum, the minister told journalists that relations between the two countries "are very solid", but that "the immense potential remains to be fulfilled", recalling that the Angolan economy is, at the moment, "in transformation", as well as the Portuguese, especially in terms of exports.
"With the Angolan economy undergoing transformation, this is an extremely opportune moment to take stock of the situation, understand what is changing and what are the new opportunities", he said.
João Gomes Cravinho highlighted that the forum held in Porto allowed Portuguese businessmen to understand the "prospects" that exist in the coming years in Angola, as well as the "opening of opportunities in new sectors".
"I believe that [this opening] makes Angola a very interesting case for the attention of Portuguese companies", he said, highlighting sectors such as agriculture, renewable energies, pharmaceuticals, textiles and footwear.
"There is a wide range of areas, some already well known, but others to be explored", noted João Gomes Cravinho, who in June will accompany the Prime Minister, António Costa, on a visit to Luanda to sign the new strategic cooperation package.
Before the minister's intervention, financial instruments to support investment were addressed in a debate that was attended by the Secretary of State for the Treasury and Finance of Angola, Ottoniel Santos, the president of Banco Português de Fomento, Celeste Hagaton, the director of the Department of Cooperation and International Relations (GPEARI-MF), Ana Barreto, and the executive director of Banco Caixa Geral Angola (BCGA), Francisco Oliveira.
According to the Secretary of State for Treasury and Finance, the Government is currently "prioritizing" the projects to be carried out under the credit line guaranteed by the Portuguese State, and the objective of the executive is "to make the requirements for accessing the line more flexible". .
"We are entering the normalization process, working in line so that these projects can begin to know the necessary demobilizations", he said, noting that since the signing of the agreement, projects worth US$500 million have already been approved.
