Angola's general commissioner at Expo 2020 Dubai, Albina Assis, presented this Friday, in Luanda, the objectives of Angola's participation, whose general theme is "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", in which the country will have the their presence in the "Opportunidades" pavilion, under the theme "Connecting with tradition to innovate", represented by the culture of the Lunda Tchokwe people.
Albina Assis said the budget had been approved by the President of the Republic, noting that the largest amount was for the construction of the pavilion, made of concrete, "as if I were making a building", different from Italy, built in wood.
"This pavilion really budgeted around 4.5 million dollars, all the other expenses are to equip it", explained the commissioner general, adding that afterwards it has to be about the exhibition: "Contrary to what people think the expo it's not hanging papers".
The official stressed that due to the financial situation this time, "a cake-expography, kitchen equipment, rooms" was made, in addition to human resources, stressing that despite the current economic context facing the country, Angola cannot "go backwards" .
"We left Milan with our heads held high, we left Milan (Italy) surpassing European countries, we were the second country in terms of classification in Milan, the gold medal went to Germany and the silver medal went to Angola, we had 2,500,000 visitors to our pavilion, therefore, we already have a culture of showing a different Africa, we are not superior to others, but we try to show it differently, to show that Africa has the capacity to do something, this really has costs," he said.
According to Albina Assis, an effort was made to save money, however, without hurting what the public has become accustomed to.
"We are the kind that covers the head a bit, the feet, but let's stretch the blanket to see if we can cover everything, this is our financial culture, it's not a culture of spending, excesses or exaggerations, it really is this culture of tightening up a bit, to do the best that can be done, to show the world that Angola is also a country that has installed capacities," he said.
Albina Assis stressed that this position of Angola helps to attract foreign investment to the country, stressing that "the expo is also an agent of economic diplomacy".
"The big problem is that most African countries will ask for help and it can't be, sometimes they don't need it, at this point it's natural because of covid-19, but there are times when they don't need it, and we quietly go It is our dignity that leads us to be able to call investors at times, because they say: they are serious, they do it, they work. We show our work and this also helps to call investors," he stressed.
According to Albina Assis, meetings with investors will also be held during the expo, in addition to the country's participation in investment forums, "with a view to calling investors", noting that during his term he has already had meetings to talk about the agricultural potential of Angola.
"We're not going to go over 12 or 13 million dollars in total, because it's not possible, first, because we don't have it, we've already spent so much on the pavilion, we're going to spend another three million on expography and equipment and the rest, as I say , let's tighten our belts to spend as little as possible," he stressed.
The official said that Angola has sought to promote Angolan culture in the exhibitions, which will not be different this time, with demonstrations of dance, music, painting, gastronomy, literature, including the participation of Angola in a Portuguese language festival, in which they do part all Member States of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).
The 4th of February, the historic date of the beginning of the armed struggle in Angola, was chosen to mark his day at Expo, with projection throughout the fair.
Angola has already participated in the World Exhibitions of Seville (1992), Lisbon (1998), Achi/Japan (2005), Zaragoza (2008), Shanghai (2010), Yeosu (2012), Milan (2015) and Astana (2017).
