César Araújo, also CEO of Calvelex, spoke to the Lusa agency, on the sidelines of the inauguration event of the new facilities of ISQAPAVE, a company providing services in the areas of inspection, supervision, quality control and 'rop acess' (work at height).
According to the official, it is necessary to break down the existing barriers between the two countries, noting that "it makes no sense that Portugal does not have a presence in Angola and at the same time that Angola does not have a strong presence in Portugal either".
The association official stressed that the Portuguese clothing industry made a strategic plan and defined Angola as one of its priorities.
"We know that Angola has a lot of difficulty in creating the ecosystem and I've been here since Wednesday to support Luanda Fashion Week and I noticed the difficulty of talented young people, creators, in making their collections", he said.
In this context, the president of ANIVEC continued, "the primary objective is to create the ecosystem, from clothing, footwear, and help Angola to be a major producer of these products", both for the domestic market and for export.
In addition to looking for profits, it is necessary "to put the seed so that it can grow", defended the businessman.
"What we are betting on now is the creation of these industries and training. We have to qualify companies, Angolan workers, together with Portugal, so that, in ten years' time, Angola's textile, footwear, clothing and fashion industry will be a world reference", he stressed.
According to César Araújo, the Government has shown great interest in cooperation, noting that the Portuguese Secretary of State for the Economy, João Neves, who is in Angola, has already had meetings with the authorities "so that there is a connection and a commitment between Governments".
"We have already spoken with some members of the Angolan Government, who are also very enthusiastic and who think that this partnership makes perfect sense", he highlighted.
"Portugal has to be part of the economic and social development of Angola, it makes no sense for us not to be present, but it is necessary to give a note, Portugal is a small country, we are ten million inhabitants, but we want to be present in this development even though we are small ", he added.
