In the period in question, the Government created a total of 213,533 formal jobs, representing an average of 19,412 new formal jobs per month, reveal the data contained in the 'Balance of 2024 and Perspectives for 2025' of the Government's Economic Agenda and whose presentation took place last Monday during a meeting between the Economic Team and the Business Technical Group.
In statements after the meeting – which was led by José de Lima Massano, Minister of State for Economic Coordination –, Luís Epalanga, Secretary of State for Economy, considered that the aforementioned numbers result from the "implementation of the measures approved by the Government, in July 2023, embodied in the increase in national production, support in access to financing for the business sector, simplification and tax relief and the improvement of the business environment", says a government note, to which VerAngola had access.
According to him, economic activity increased, and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased four points in the first quarter, 4.1 in the second, remaining at 5.5 percent in the last quarter.
"The fundamental thing about this growth is that GDP continues to be led by non-productive sectors", added the Secretary of State.
"According to the data available, GDP growth is the result of the dynamism of the diamond and other mineral extraction sectors that contribute 36.8 percent, transport and storage 14.1 percent, fishing 11.6 percent, energy and water 7.0 percent, commerce 4.9 percent, agriculture 4.1 percent, manufacturing 2.1 percent, construction 1.8 percent and petroleum extraction and refining 4.1 percent", reads the communiqué.
Another component that comes from the implementation of measures to stimulate the economy approved by the Executive in July last year "is the slowdown in inflation that has been recorded since April 2024".
Luís Epalanga said that from December last year until April this year, inflation grew by an average of 2.6 percent and, with the implementation of these measures, there was a "monthly slowdown, going from 2.6 to around 1.6 percent by November 2024".
According to the Secretary of State, the aforementioned numbers "are encouraging", encouraging "to continue working to increase national production, with the aim of guaranteeing more competitive prices and reducing imports".
Regarding the prospects for next year, "entrepreneurs were informed that the consolidation of the growth trajectory is expected, with GDP expected to grow above four percent, driven by the growth of the non-oil sector in the order of 5.15 percent, despite a slight contraction in the oil sector, including gas, in year-on-year terms being expected", points out the note.
The Secretary of State pointed out that a decrease in inflation is also expected for next year, "justifying the implementation of economic and public investment measures, which could support economic activity".
Ramiro Barreira, spokesperson for the Technical Business Group, considered it a "very productive, very useful" meeting, as it enabled the Government to present data relating to the evolution of the economy, constraints and problems.
"The group was very happy to know that the Angolan economy is growing and the prospects for 2025 are even better. This gives us great encouragement, especially in areas such as agriculture and other important areas", he said, quoted in the statement.
According to the businessman, the meeting also served to "present issues related to taxation, as members believe it is important to give companies a boost".
Thus, the person in charge defended the continuity of dialogue between the business class and the Government: "We think that dialogue must continue between the business sector and the Government and that only with this dialogue will it effectively enable us to find the best ways, the better solutions".
On the occasion, he also highlighted that "entrepreneurs are not just there to criticize, they are also there to help find solutions, presenting paths and pathways that help in the development and growth of the economy".
"He welcomed the announcement regarding financing, in the near future, for companies linked to the hotel and tourism sector, which will allow them to reinvigorate and create some financial capacity, to obtain technical resources at the level of hotels, tour operators and of travel agencies", the note also says.
