Africa-Press – Angola. Angola and the United States of America (USA) began on Thursday, in the city of Washington DC, a new era in their strategic partnership, with the guarantee of more North American financing in key sectors of the economy Angolan.
After 30 years of diplomatic relations and an economic partnership anchored mainly in the field of oil, the two States now have a new basis for bilateral cooperation, focused on different areas.
Agriculture, telecommunications, renewable energy, oil refining, commerce, space exploration, defense and security are now the new focus of American investors and their respective States.
Currently, Angola is the USA’s third largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, with oil as one of the main assets of this strategic partnership, but there is a signal from both Governments to boost trade.
To this end, a strong investment is planned for the Lobito Corridor (Benguela province), where the US Government plans to invest USD 250 million, to help make the project of massive circulation of goods between Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
In this new era of cooperation, the renewable energy sector will also receive particular attention from the USA, which approved USD 900 million, within the framework of projects developed by the American company Sun Africa, one of its largest investments of its kind in Africa.
For the infrastructure sector, a package of USD 363 million was approved this year for the American company Acro Briz, which will build metal bridges in 18 provinces of Angola, giving greater impetus to the government’s strategy of improving circulation of people and goods.
As for the telecommunications area, there is cooperation with the company Africell, for the digitalization of money, within the scope of the ‘Digital money is better’ program, with an investment of five million dollars.
Another ongoing investment in Angola is focused on the environment, with the US investing around USD 7.5 million in the Okavango Delta.
These and other projects were under analysis at the historic meeting between the Angolan President, João Lourenço, and his North American counterpart, Joe Biden, which allowed discussing more efficient forms of cooperation.
The Angolan Head of State was, for the first time, in a “tête-à-tête” with the North American President, in the Oval Office of the White House, where he expressed Angola’s total openness to strengthening the economic partnership with this Western country.
When signing the White House honor book, he wrote that it was a unique opportunity to discuss with Joe Biden fundamental aspects of relations between both countries, “setting expectations quite high that the moment represents a notable milestone for the dynamization, expansion and deepening bilateral relations”.
“I want to mention that I very frankly believe that the future of cooperation between Angola and the United States of America holds achievements that will give it a dimension equal to the potential that exists at all levels in our two nations”, highlighted João Lourenço.
According to the Head of State, these achievements will certainly help to realize the aspirations of the respective peoples for a broad understanding in favor of progress, well-being, peace and global stability.
At the end of the approximately 40-minute meeting, the Angolan Head of State said he had no doubt that the conversation with Joe Biden opened a new framework for the two countries to consolidate their bilateral cooperation.
“Everything went very well. It went better than we expected. The level of our relations is quite high. There is total openness on the part of the American Administration and Angola and Africa will benefit from it”, he concluded.
João Lourenço raised the possibility of inviting Joe Biden for an official visit to Angola, which could greatly reinforce the strategic partnership of the two States.
Joe Biden secures robust financing
His counterpart, Joe Biden, took advantage of the meeting to congratulate the Angolan President for his role in promoting the stability and pacification of the Great Lakes Region, in particular the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In his brief speech, before the start of official talks, Biden reaffirmed his country’s commitment to helping develop Angola and Africa.
He stated that the USA is committed to the future of the entire African continent, but emphasized that, in Africa, “no country is more important than Angola”
Joe Biden ensured the mobilization of more than USD billion for the construction of railway lines, which could extend from Angola to the DRC and Zambia.
According to Biden, this is a project that aims to connect East Africa to the West, highlighting that it is the largest US investment in this segment in Africa.
“This first project of its kind is the largest American railway investment ever in Africa, he noted, adding that it is an investment to “create jobs and connect markets for future generations”.
The President of the USA also announced a financial package of USD billion for Angola, for projects linked to the production of clean energy until 2025.
Likewise, Joe Biden announced an investment in agricultural infrastructure for Angola, which will make the country an exporter of excellence, from 2027.
The American President also mentioned that the United States is investing billions of dollars in Africa “for a series of items”, including solar energy and agricultural development projects in Angola.
Historic moment
In turn, the US ambassador to Angola, Tulinabo Mushingi, told the press, at the end of the meeting, that this was a historic moment, which will boost the diplomatic and commercial relations of the two States.
He highlighted the fact that João Lourenço was received at the White House for the first time since his rise to power in 2017, and highlighted that he was the third African leader to achieve this feat since the election of Joe Biden.
“We are very happy to see that President Biden invited President João Lourenço. Other leaders who have already visited (the White House) are those from South Africa and Kenya. President Biden is very happy with the level of conversations held”, expressed.
According to the diplomat, the two statesmen spoke about various topics, such as prosperity, private investment and the issue of security, discussing mutual advantages with the implementation of different investments.
With these new partnerships, Angola will be able to accelerate its economic growth and development, benefiting, above all, from US technology to open more companies and create thousands of jobs.
angop
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
