The data was advanced by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Victor Fernandes, at the inauguration ceremony, by President João Lourenço, of an appliance factory, located in the Special Economic Zone, in Viana, on the outskirts of Luanda.
Victor Fernandes stressed that the factory, which has existed for almost two decades, fits into the executive's strategy of increasing local national production of various goods and services, as well as reducing imports and promoting exports.
According to the minister, other similar projects are yet to be inaugurated in the industrial center of Viana and in many other parts of the country, already showing encouraging results, "above all in the boldness of exporting their products 'made in Angola' to various markets".
The minister stressed that despite the encouraging results, "much remains to be done and the challenge will be overcome".
To give an idea of the impact of this factory on the economy, Victor Fernandes stressed that Angola, from January 2018 to August this year, spent US $ 141 million on the import of machines, air conditioners and their accessories and in the same period spent also $ 147 million from the import of refrigerators, chests, glaciers and other materials and appliances for the production of cold.
"That is why in this segment of the light industry, ICC Angola is one of some industries that we already have in Angola, so the formal inauguration of the others is also coming soon," said Victor Fernandes.
ICC Angola, a company under Angolan law, in operation for almost 20 years, started in the trade sector and a little over a year ago turned to the industry, now guaranteeing 120 jobs and looking to employ another 250 in 2021.
The factory, which initially produced foams, sheets, paints, tubes, packaging and spring mattresses, has now invested in the assembly of air conditioning, glaciers, chests, stoves and televisions of global brands to offer to the domestic and foreign markets.
