Africa-Press – Angola. Angola and the Democratic Republic (DRC) agreed, Tuesday, in Luanda, to facilitate the granting of visas to economic operators at border posts, with a view to maintaining the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, between the two countries.
In accordance with the recommendations of the second Angola-DRC Economic Forum, which took place from the 13th to the 14th of this month, the facilitation will allow harmonizing import duties and taxes, as well as reducing administrative costs on the Luvo to Cabinda, Noqui to Cabinda and vice versa, in order to facilitate trade.
Under the motto “Economic Partnerships for Mutual Growth”, the participants defended the carrying out of joint operations to monitor and control common borders, and for this purpose, taking into account the territorial limit of each country to combat fraud in imports and exports across common borders.
Cooperation to eliminate smuggling in order to discourage illegal entry across borders was also recommended.
At this point, according to the document, joint actions were carried out within the framework of the implementation of security measures and policies, aiming to speed up the supply chain and facilitate trade at a regional and international level.
It is still under analysis to improve the competitiveness of local industries in both countries and take the necessary measures to protect local and emerging industries.
Cooperating in the sharing, in real time, of seizure information and customs risks, identified through the respective focal points to be indicated, to combat the illicit movement of people and goods between the two countries, are also part of the recommendations made at the meeting .
The governments also decided to promote business opportunities by simplifying administrative procedures, facilitating establishment and strengthening double taxation agreements, simultaneously harmonizing the financial markets of the two countries.
Developing cross-border infrastructure, including railways, such as the Lobito Transnational Corridor project, roads, waterways and increasing the frequency of commercial flights, in order to promote trade between the two countries, constitutes the goals of the governments of Angola and the DRC.
According to the note, the cross-border road transport agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Angola, signed since January 2015, will be implemented, with a view to making the transport of goods more fluid between the economies.
Participants also decided to share experiences in the services sector, including transport, finance, tourism, insurance, culture and sport.
The document also expresses the development of cooperation in the field of space exploration and joint use of the potential of the Angolan satellite ANGOSAT 2 and its telecommunications “spin-offs” in collaboration with the specialized agencies of the two countries.
It is also a priority among Governments to develop cooperation/partnership in the fields of agriculture and livestock, fisheries, industry, commerce and renewable energy, such as Grand Inga and energy projects developed by private operators.
Cooperate in the decarbonization policy of economies, considering mechanisms to compensate for energy deficits in the internal market, at the time of the energy transition, importing the surplus from one of the two countries.
The governments also want to develop cooperation in the air transport sector with a view, in particular, to the operation of international flights by airlines from both countries to other countries, in accordance with the rules relating to international civil aviation.
It is also a priority between countries to cooperate closely in the implementation of regional facilitation and integration mechanisms established in the Economic Community of Central African States (EEACS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The 2nd Angola-DRC Economic Forum took place under the auspices of the presidents of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço and of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.
The economic forum brought together leaders from border provinces and state entities, as well as economic operators from both countries.
The meeting aimed to evaluate the recommendations made at the first Forum, held in Kinshasa, between July 31st and August 1st.
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