The agreement – which was signed by the Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, and the Minister of Trade of Ivory Coast, Souleymane Diarrassouba – marks a "new impetus in bilateral relations and aims to establish the legal basis for the operation of international air services between the two countries, with the aim of strengthening cooperation in the field of civil aviation and promoting regional integration".
"We intend to start implementing the agreement with an air link between the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, in Luanda, and the city of Abidjan, in August 2025", said Ricardo de Abreu, quoted by Angop.
On the occasion, the Minister of Transport, quoted in a statement from CIPRA to which VerAngola had access, assured that this document is framed within the "strategic vision of the African Union, enshrined in Agenda 2063, with regard to air connectivity between States".
"The agreement also provides for the creation of conditions for the establishment of regular air routes, which will favour the exchange of people and goods, tourism and investment between the two countries", says the note.
The Minister of Transport also highlighted that Angola remains "committed to contributing to the strengthening of infrastructure and air services on the continent, as part of its commitment to African mobility".
In turn, the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Robert Mambé, considered that the signing of this instrument will "dynamize and boost cooperation relations between the two countries".
Mambé, who held a meeting with the President of the Republic João Lourenço on Tuesday, also said that the "air link between Luanda and Abidjan benefits not only Central Africa, but also West Africa, and is part of the dynamics of the African Free Trade Area".
For the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, with this agreement, the two countries "take to heart the desire of African leaders to dynamize and open direct trade lines, which can contribute to the implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area".
"This is part of the efforts of the heads of state, who have a great desire to establish cooperation and allow Africa to take a different course of action," he said, quoted in another CIPRA statement, to which VerAngola had access.
The signing ceremony of this agreement, under which the "aeronautical authorities of both states will be able to establish technical understandings to guarantee the effective and safe implementation of air links," was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, and the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Robert Mambé.
Regarding the meeting with João Lourenço, Mambé said that it served to address, in addition to bilateral issues, "matters in other areas that are of interest to both countries."
According to CIPRA, the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast and the delegation accompanying him are in Luanda participating in the US-Africa Business Summit, which is taking place in Luanda this Wednesday, with the theme "Paths to Prosperity."
"On behalf of the President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, the Prime Minister thanked the Angolan Head of State for welcoming the Ivorian delegation participating in this forum," the note also reads.
