The National Assembly assessed and approved, this Thursday, the State General Budget Execution reports for the first and second quarters of 2024.
According to a statement from Parliament, to which VerAngola had access, the document passed the scrutiny of deputies with 112 votes in favor, none against and six abstentions.
The reports were presented by Ottoniel dos Santos, state secretary of Finance and Treasury. On the occasion, cited by Angop, the Secretary of State reported that in the first three months of the year there was a deficit of 318 billion kwanzas, as well as a positive current balance of 1.29 billion kwanzas, while in the second quarter, in terms of budget execution a surplus of 823 billion kwanzas was recorded and a positive current balance of 1.12 billion kwanzas.
Thus, according to Angop, budget execution in these first six months of the year presented a surplus of 504 billion kwanzas, as well as a positive current balance of 2.41 billion kwanzas.
Ottoniel dos Santos also mentioned that the price of a barrel of oil in the first quarter was around 81 dollars, while in the second quarter it was around 85 dollars: "This report that we bring here was based on the assumption that its implementation would have an oil price around of 81 dollars per barrel for the first quarter and 85 dollars per barrel for the second quarter", he pointed out, quoted in the Parliament statement.
"It appears that the revenue collected represents an execution of around 22 percent, in relation to the approved annual revenue, and current revenues were collected corresponding to an execution of 26 percent and a share of the total revenue of 70 percent and, in turn, capital revenues had an execution of 16 percent of the expected annual value and a share of total revenue of 30 percent", the statement also says.
The note also highlights that "a large portion of the expenditure attributed in the OGE 2024 went to the social sector, with a budgeted amount of around 4.98 billion kwanzas, highlighting a greater investment in education and health, with approved amounts of 1.57 billion kwanzas and 1.36 billion kwanzas, respectively".
Thus, in the period in question, the social sector "presented an execution in the order of 1.03 billion kwanzas, equivalent to an execution of around 21 percent of the total budgeted value and representing a weight of 22 percent on the total expenditure executed".
Country joins the Africa Finance Corporation
At the plenary session of the National Assembly, held this Thursday, was also approved the draft resolution that approves, for ratification, the agreement that establishes the Africa Finance Corporation.
"Unanimously, with 113 votes, the draft resolution that approves, for ratification, the agreement that establishes the Africa Finance Corporation- AFC, was approved, this Thursday, by the plenary of the National Assembly", reads a statement from Parliament, to which VerAngola had access.
According to deputy José Semedo, the country's accession, "as a member country, to the aforementioned agreement", aims to respond "to the needs for investment in infrastructure in the transport, logistics, energy, mines and oil sectors in Africa".
"AFC is an ideal partner that would complement the Executive's efforts with regard to the diversification of the Angolan economy, since its portfolio of projects in preparation is aligned with the objectives of the National Development Plan 2018-2022", said the parliamentarian of the MPLA.
In this way, Angola will join the list of 42 countries that already belong to this corporation.
"For our country, the Africa Finance Corporation represents an opportunity to attract structural investments, strengthen financial and technical capacity and promote sustainable development in various sectors", considered the president of the Humanist Party of Angola.
In turn, Domingos Vieira Lopes, Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Angolan Communities, recalled that AFC "has already participated in the Sonangol Capex Project, which resulted in the financing of operational expenses worth 45 million dollars".
Electric mobility with 'green light'
Another highlight of the plenary was the fact that deputies approved electric mobility in the country. During the session, the Legislative Authorization Bill on the Legal Regime that defines Electromobility passed the scrutiny of deputies with 113 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions.
It was up to the Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, to present the document, which "proposes the creation of a legal regime that provides sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility, replacing the use of combustion vehicles".
According to Ricardo de Abreu, quoted in another statement from Parliament to which VerAngola had access, this legislative initiative will enable the "creation of business opportunities, with a view to the emergence of industries in Angola for the assembly of electric vehicles, manufacture of batteries, maintenance services, manufacture of parts and other accessories" for electric cars, "whose results in the national economy could be quite promising".
In addition, he added that the approval of this document will also allow "the country to align with the best international practices regarding sustainable mobility and environmental preservation, constituting a significant step in fulfilling the international commitments to which Angola is a party, within the framework of reducing the emission of harmful gases and promoting environmentally friendly mobility".
