Ana Abrunhosa was speaking at the Portuguese School in Luanda, as part of the commemorations of the Day of Portugal, of Camões and of the Portuguese Communities, in which the fado singer Ana Moura also participated.
Showing herself moved by "returning to the land" where she was born, she explained the connection she has developed with Angola, the country to which she feels she belongs forever.
"Even when we are far away. Even when this country was ours only on 'loan'", stated Abrunhosa, stressing that the two countries share a centuries-old history, which allowed them to become partners, advisors and travel companions.
"That's who we are today," she pointed out.
The minister, who signed an agreement with her Angolan counterpart in the field of territorial cohesion, celebrated the "intense economic relations" that already exist with Angola and its immense potential, referring to policies for economic diversification "because they are important for Portuguese investors who wish" to reach this market and for the opening of the European market to Angolan exports.
"Portugal will always be a partner, sharing experience in areas where it already has recognition and value, such as the agricultural sector, textiles and footwear, pharmaceuticals, tourism, renewable energies and information and communication technologies", she reinforced.
According to Ana Abrunhosa, there are more than 1200 companies with Portuguese or mixed capital operating in this market in various sectors.
Last week, Prime Minister António Costa was in Luanda to sign the new Strategic Cooperation Program 2023-2027 and a total of 13 legal instruments, recalled the minister, underlining the importance, "even from the symbolic point of view", of new program, 45 years after the signing of the first cooperation agreement between the two countries.
The Portuguese ambassador in Luanda, Francisco Alegre Duarte, also joined in the celebration of Camões Day, this time "to the sound of fado and semba", declaring himself a "happy ambassador" with the recent statements by João Lourenço, for whom "relations between Angola and Portugal have never been so good".
"I am proud of the historic reach of the announcement of the invitation addressed jointly by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Portugal to President João Lourenço, to participate in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April", congratulated the diplomat.
For Francisco Alegre Duarte, the announcement, along with the restoration of the Fortress of São Francisco do Penedo, which will house the future Museum of the National Liberation Struggle, "symbolize the maturity of our relationship, based on equality and mutual respect".
