Angola is "an important market for Chinese companies looking for partnerships in the area of infrastructure in Portuguese-speaking countries", according to the report on the 2022 'ranking' of the Infrastructure Development Index "One Belt, One Road", the initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which involves 71 countries in Beijing's international strategic plan to develop maritime, road and rail links, but also investment in energy resources.
"In 2021, Chinese companies in Angola signed agreements on 44 projects worth 2.64 billion dollars, representing 39 percent of the total value of infrastructure contracts" signed by Portuguese-speaking countries.
The contracts signed last year in terms of housing construction alone were more than 400 million dollars. "The country is well on the way to a 'boom' in housing", he adds.
The same document highlights the fact that the country has risen 11 positions to 22nd place, the fastest rise recorded among Portuguese-speaking countries in the index that assesses the environment, demand, receptivity and costs for development. infrastructure in the countries included in the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.
The higher the score on the index, the better the outlook for a country's infrastructure industry, and the more attractive it is for companies to engage in investment, construction and operations in this area in those territories.
Angola is, among Portuguese-speaking countries, the one that stands out the most in the demand sub-index, which combines factors such as demand and potential market.
The report was presented at the International Forum on Infrastructure Investment and Construction.
At the opening of the event, the deputy minister of Commerce of China, Li Fei, informed that the country has invested 178.8 billion dollars abroad this year.
