Executive to invest 445 million dollars to build 21 logistics centers by 2038

The information was disclosed in Soyo, province of Zaire, by the minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, at the launch of the international public tender for the concession, construction, operation and commercial management of the Logistic Platforms of Soyo and Luvo, in Zaire.

Abreu said that all platforms to be built by 2038 will have different characteristics that will complement each other.

"This act symbolizes that we are taking another concrete step in promoting the diversification of the Angolan economy, by stimulating the increase in production in other sectors and reducing dependence on oil, and it is therefore essential to establish an optimized logistics network , integrated by the maritime, terrestrial, railway and air sectors", he referred.

According to the official, the network of logistic platforms will be an important element in the national economy's diversification plan, and depending on the province where they will be installed, they will facilitate the storage, conservation and flow of production from the productive, rural, fishing areas, as well as from the hubs. agro-industrial.

Angola ranks 162 out of 163 countries in the World Bank's Logistics Index, said the minister, stressing that the institution estimated that, in 2017, transport and logistics costs in Angola were 16.7 percent in relation to Gross Domestic Product . "It's twice as much as that of more developed economies," he stressed.

By 2022, Angola plans to put into operation six logistics platforms, which aim to boost the great economic potential of its regions and respond to the growing demand for goods and services by citizens and companies.

"With the SADC region [Southern African Development Community] in the crosshairs, the National Network of Logistics Platforms will also be a determining element to solidify Angola's geostrategic position as a 'hub' of reference for the entry and exit of goods in the Southern and Central Africa," he said.

On his turn, the minister of Economy, Mário Caetano João, said that this network of logistic platforms will help in the dynamics of the regional integration process, in southern and central Africa, which can be fed with national products.

"We are talking about two markets that include more than 500 million inhabitants, a sufficiently large market and we only have to ensure that these logistic platforms can effectively serve the country in the best possible way", he stressed.

Mário Caetano João stressed that without these logistical platforms, a very interesting dynamic in exports has already been verified, with the main markets at the moment being the Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo) and Cameroon.

"We are seeing a diversification in the destination of our goods, last year it was mainly the Democratic Republic of Congo, border countries, today we are seeing that the Republic of Congo ranks first, the Democratic Republic of Congo in second and in third Cameroon, therefore, we are seeing that our companies are exploring neighboring countries, where the entry of our goods is less demanding, for less sophisticated markets," he said.

According to the Minister of Economy, the product that leads exports is cement, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and packaging.

"These are the first four that have been gaining ground here in the region and we have been following them and seeing how we can eliminate non-tariff barriers," he added.

The minister of Economy said that there is also an effort to expand production to the centers of the eastern region, namely the Congolese province of Alto Catanga, with the capital of Lubumbashi, the main economic center of DRCongo.

"It would be desirable that we could also reach this Lubumbashi/Durban corridor (South Africa), which is a very economically interesting corridor", highlighting the production of beans that have been exported to neighboring countries, in addition to some tubers and fruits.