Francisco Alegre Duarte, who spoke at the VI Encontro Empresarial Portugal | Angola, promoted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Portugal - Angola (CCIPA), stressed that after the covid-19 pandemic, which "many of our companies resisted without closing doors", 2022 was a year of recovery, with Angola maintaining as the third most important extra-community market and ninth export destination, approaching 2018 levels.
According to preliminary statistics, 2022 was also the first year, since 2017, in which there was an increase in Portuguese economic operators exporting to Angola, he added.
Currently, more than 4500 Portuguese companies export to Angola and around 1200 companies of Portuguese origin or mixed capital operate directly in the Angolan market.
In the first four months of 2023, the positive trend of goods and services from Portuguese companies continued with a year-on-year growth of 12.3 percent in exports compared to the same period last year, reaching 775 million euros, said Francisco Alegre Duarte.
For the ambassador, Portugal is also an important partner in terms of diversifying the economy and training human capital, and the extension of the ceiling of the Financing Line from 1500 to 2000 million euros is also a sign of confidence.
"The strengthening of the line is an unmistakable sign of confidence in Angola and is also a measure that will make it possible to reinforce the capacity of Portuguese companies to act and invest in this country", he stated.
The diplomat acknowledges that the current period is one of "some uncertainty and challenges on the economic front, with a difficult situation in terms of exchange variation and inflation control", expressing the hope that the stabilizing measures that are being applied by the Angolan Government are effective.
On Friday, the government announced a package of financial and fiscal measures with a view to stimulating national production and economic growth and easing the cost of living for Angolans, who are suffering the effects of the sharp drop in the kwanza and pressure on prices. of essential goods.
"Our companies are here to help make change happen and will respond to the challenge of economic diversification", he said, speaking of "brotherly relationships, which also live on good business".
In his speech, Francisco Alegre Duarte stated that Portuguese companies are "the engine of the economic relationship between Portugal and Angola" and praised the "work, dedication and effort of hundreds of Portuguese and Angolan businessmen", many of whom were present at the event, which serves as an antechamber to the Luanda International Fair (Filda).
