Africa-Press – Angola. Trade between Angola and the Kingdom of Belgium reached USD 900 million (one dollar equivalent to 760.89 kwanzas) last year, levels higher than those prior to the Covid-19 era, he announced this Friday , the ambassador of this country, Jozef Smets.
The diplomat provided this information at the end of an audience granted by the Vice President of the MPLA, Luísa Damião, which took place at the headquarters of this political formation.
Jozef Smets added that this was due to the intensity of relations between the two countries, having clarified that Angola exported products valued at US$600 million to Belgium, while the European partner sold goods worth US$300 million.
He also said that the transactions were essentially in the areas of ports, air connections and mine clearance, with a greater incidence in the provinces of Uíge, Cuanza Norte and Cuanza Sul.
The ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium reported that issues such as the organization of municipalities, the promotion of gender equality, inflation control and the importance of civil society in strengthening democracy were also addressed at the hearing.
The diplomat also praised the role of Angolan diplomacy in promoting peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where, “unfortunately, armed groups still operate”.
Also this Friday, the vice-president of the MPLA received the reverend president of the Pentecostal Ebenezer church of God, Gideão Panzo, who in the end expressed the predisposition of this congregation to contribute to alleviate the social pressure aggravated by the reduction of the gasoline price subsidy and the rising cost of living.
Gideão Panzo stated that, although the demonstration is enshrined in the Constitution, it is necessary that they take place in an orderly manner and in obedience to the law, expressing the willingness to promote peace and unity so that rulers and ruled find the best ways to overcome the current challenges.
Also today, the president of the Northeast Union of Angola of the Church of the Seventh Day, Teixeira Vinte, asked for the MPLA’s advocacy against an attempt to divide and destabilize within the congregation carried out by a group called “Ana Leste”.
Leaving the meeting with the vice-president of the MPLA, Teixeira Vinte added that the separatists accuse the leadership of having diverted 50 donor tractors to implement agricultural projects.
The provincial secretary of the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA) in Bié, Martinho Sonjamba José Diogo, asked the second person in the MPLA hierarchy to intercede to obtain support for the rehabilitation of places of worship, schools and hospitals assigned to the mission, to help to overcome some needs of the local populations.
The women leaders of the National Youth Council (CNJ) informed the Vice-president of this political formation about the preparations for the launching of the first rural city in July, in the province of Bengo, in an initiative of cooperatives, according to the spokesperson of the group, Jaqueline Saturnino de Oliveira.
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