"We want Brazil to use Angola as a gateway to both the SADC region [Community for the Development of Southern Africa] and central Africa, just as we would like to see Brazil as our gateway to gateway to the Mercosur region," said João Lourenço.
The head of state, who was speaking to the press, within the framework of the Brazilian President's visit to Angola, alongside Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, assured that between his country and Brazil there will be "mutual support" so that Brazil's entry into Africa and Angola in Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) is a reality.
"Today we signed some legal cooperation instruments that will make it possible for us to implement the programs and projects we have in our portfolio", said João Lourenço, at the end of the signing ceremony of seven memoranda of understanding between both countries.
João Lourenço, who was speaking in the so-called protocol room of the Presidential Palace, where the delegations of the two countries attended the signing of the cooperation instruments, said he was satisfied that Angola received a "true and longtime friend".
The head of state said that relations between Angola and Brazil reached "a high point a few years ago", a moment "which, unfortunately, for reasons that do not matter to mention here, somehow cooled off".
"But, as they say, better late than never, therefore, the time has come to relaunch these relations once again", he pointed out.
Brazil "is a country that means a lot to Angola for a number of reasons, cultural, historical, but also economic because Brazil, after all, if on the one hand it is still classified as a developing country (also) still there's a lot of what they call the first world", he stressed.
According to the President, the African country has a lot to gain from this partnership: "Angola was happy now, months after President Lula's investiture by being the first African country to receive a State visit from the President of Brazil".
"We are going to strengthen our cooperation ties, we want to develop the areas of agriculture, livestock, education, health, tourism and others that are important for both nations, we want to see Brazilian investment in Angola, but we also want to see Angolan investment in Brazil", concluded João Lourenço.
In addition, the President also said that Brazil has been one of the most visible presences of Angola's economic development, reiterating the invitation to Brazilian businessmen to invest in Angola "in a fearless way".
João Lourenço, who spoke at the closing ceremony of the Angola-Brazil Economic Forum, held as part of the visit of the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, stressed that, in about five years, even with the covid-19 pandemic, Angola has managed to create a better business environment that attracts private investors.
"We count on Brazilian direct private investment in the Angolan economy to transform Angola's economic potential into real wealth, creating jobs and prosperity, which is why we reiterate the invitation to Brazilian businessmen to invest in Angola fearlessly", he said.
The President asked the Brazilian business community to invest in agribusiness, the automotive industry, the manufacture of tractors and implements, fertilizers and fertilizers, production of solar panels, production of medicines and vaccines, wood processing industries, tourism, real estate and in all other branches that are in your own interest.
According to João Lourenço, with the operation of the Lobito corridor, Brazilian businessmen who invest in Angola will also have access to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) market, with a Gross Domestic Product of over 720 billion dollars and , approximately 350 million consumers.
João Lourenço also appealed to his country's businessmen to take advantage of the business opportunities that Brazil offers in practically all sectors of the Brazilian economy and the possibility of reaching Mercosur countries through Brazil.
"My presence and that of President Lula at the closing act of the business forum reflects our high commitment to boosting investment and trade between our two countries", he said.
At the ceremony, João Lourenço and Lula da Silva unveiled the plaque of the Angola Brazil Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), and witnessed the signing of the Action Plan of the Cunene Valley Programme, to support family farming.
