According to a government statement, to which VerAngola had access, the meeting essentially served to analyze the "impacts of recent changes in fuel prices, which also affected taxi fares, including updating routes and itineraries, as well as economic actions sought after by taxi drivers".
The meeting also focused on "supervision and coordination between the various entities involved, such as the provincial transport directorates, the police and mobility services, especially in relation to collective taxis".
According to Énio Costa, president of the Board of Directors (PCA) of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), there needs to be "continuous dialogue and collaboration" between authorities and operators in the sector.
Speaking to the press, after the meeting, the ANTT PCA said that the meeting was positive, as it made it possible to analyze pending issues and "design subsequent steps".
Énio Costa said that, in essence, we must "continue this journey of dialogue" to reach solutions.
"Basically, it is about continuing this journey of dialogue so that, in fact, we can find joint solutions that, above all, can be beneficial to both operators and the populations that use transport services", he said, quoted in the statement.
António Alberto Freitas, president of the Taxi Drivers and Motorcyclists Cooperative, highlighted the progress "in discussions and persistent concerns".
"One of the issues raised was the need to update Presidential Decree 128/10, which regulates the activity of taxi drivers and the problem of drivers shortening routes, something that negatively impacts the quality of service and the income of taxi drivers", reads in the statement.
However, according to Alberto Freitas, the assessment made is positive: "The assessment we made is positive. We hope, once again, to work with the Executive in order to restructure the itineraries presented" during the meeting, he said.
Also speaking on the occasion was António Gavião Neto, president of the Association of Road Freight Transporters of Angola (ATROMA), who spoke about the difficulties faced by goods transporters, specifically with regard to transport fees between the country and the neighboring country Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting that "unequal collection of fees at borders continues to be a significant challenge."
"Angolan companies that transport goods to Congo face fees of around 4000 dollars, while Congolese transporters entering Angola pay only 50 dollars for each truck," he said, having highlighted the fact that there needs to be a "policy of reciprocity between the two countries".
"We all left the meeting satisfied. In fact, it is a pedagogical procedure that our Executive is undertaking today, which strengthens the relationship between economic partners and encourages greater attention to the activity of both classes for the benefit of the nation", added Gavião Neto.
It is recalled that Lima Massano's first meeting with transport sector operators was held in June, and the next meeting is scheduled for May 2025.
