"Angola is undergoing a process of profound changes in the reality that the country has experienced in the last four decades, and today there is a new vision with the definition of other development priorities," said João Lourenço, in a speech in virtual format to the U.S. President's Advisory Council on business in Africa.
The Head of State highlighted, among other development priorities, "agriculture, technology and higher education, transportation and infrastructure, health, pharmaceutical industry, banking and insurance, and others" that could be of interest to the US.
According to a statement issued by the presidency, João Lourenço stressed that "the interest in investing almost exclusively in hydrocarbons should be corrected, taking into account the enormous potential that the Angolan economy offers", highlighting the main economic reforms launched in recent years and the focus on combating corruption.
"We are conducting in Angola a process of correcting the bad practices of governance and management of public affairs, with the support of important institutions of friendly countries, of which I highlight that of the Treasury Department, which has been providing technical assistance to our Financial Information Unit," said the Governor.
"We are making an enormous effort in Angola to transform our economy with a view to encouraging private investment and free enterprise, while strengthening our commitment to democracy, transparency, the fight against corruption and the defense of human rights," he said.
João Lourenço admitted: "The implementation of these reforms has not been easy, but it is necessary and vital for the future of the Angolan people".
Earlier, on a day classified as a "historic day", the President had already spoken on the phone with the US Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, and then answered questions posed by businessmen.
"The interest of businessmen walked around questions such as the response of the Angolan executive to the covid-19 pandemic, the bet on infrastructure and capacity building of the health system, how American companies can participate in this effort," reads the statement.
According to the note, the businessmen "also asked about the digital economy, the economic reforms and improvement of the business environment, the informality of a good part of the Angolan economy and the efforts to change this framework and the programs and public policies aimed at the empowerment of women".
