Jânio Victor was speaking to representatives of 15 French companies who this Tuesday met with the Angolan Government at an Angola-France business forum in the mining sector, held under the motto "Angola: Mining Potential and Business Opportunities".
The government official highlighted that the country, since 2017, has adopted a new model of sector governance, creating a more favorable environment for the feasibility of prospecting, exploration, processing, transformation and commercialization of mineral resources, to attract internal and external investments.
"We highlight that in terms of contribution to the economy in 2021, the mining sector only contributed approximately 1.4 percent to Angola's GDP [Gross Domestic Product]. In our reading this number is still insignificant, requiring direct investments that bring more industrial development to the country", he said.
According to Jânio Victor, for the next few years the effort is focused on continuing to diversify mining production, currently more focused on diamonds, relying on large, medium and small companies to develop multiple mineral value chains.
Jânio Victor highlighted that the sector will continue to implement diamond prospecting and exploration projects, accelerate the entry into production of new diamond projects, to increase production, highlighting the Luaxe Project, in the province of Lunda Sul, and the operationalization of the Angolan Diamond Exchange.
The promotion of precious metals, such as gold, and, consequently, the construction of a gold refinery in Luanda, ornamental rocks and ferrous metals, were also listed by Jânio Victor as areas of interest for investment.
In turn, the French ambassador to Angola, Sophie Aubert, said that the event, initiated by France, represents another step in economic and commercial relations between the two countries.
Sophie Aubert said that some of the companies that are part of the mission are already established in Angola and others are "discovering the country through this mission", whose participation illustrates the willingness of French companies to invest in Angola.
Speaking to the press, the French ambassador highlighted that one of the companies prospecting the market is ERAMET, a mining and metallurgical company, which deals with all ores except uranium.
"We also have companies that already provide services in Angola to companies in the mining sector. We are going to make a field visit to see how the mining sector works here, today we already had a broad view through the State operators in this sector", she highlighted.
The French diplomat said that the trade balance tilts in favor of Angola, because France imports Angolan oil, adding that the turnover between the two countries is around three billion euros.
