Africa-Press – Angola. Angola and Lebanon agreed, Tuesday, the need to finalize the instruments and agreements submitted to each other, with a view to deepening bilateral cooperation.
The conclusion came from meetings that the Angolan ambassador to Lebanon, Nelson Cosme, held with diplomats from this Mediterranean country.
To this end, the Angolan diplomat, who is in the Lebanese capital at the invitation of the local authorities, held meetings, separately, with ambassadors Rodrigue el Khourij, Joelle Antoun, Hadi Jaber and Oussama Khavjad, respectively, directors for Africa, Political Affairs, Economic Affairs, and the State Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
These are four instruments submitted by the Angolan side, namely, the Cooperation Agreement in the Economic, Scientific and Cultural domains, the Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultation Mechanisms, the Agreement on Visa Exemption in Diplomatic, Service and Special Passports and the Agreement on the establishment of the Bilateral Commission between Angola and Lebanon.
In this regard, the Angolan diplomat, residing in Cairo, was informed that the Agreement on Political Consultations has already been approved by the Lebanese authorities and that it will be transmitted to the Angolan authorities, through diplomatic channels. The rest are in the completion phase.
In turn, the Lebanese side delivered to Ambassador Nelson Cosme, for processing to the competent institutions and bodies, two instruments, namely, relating to the encouragement, promotion and protection of reciprocal investments and the Civil Aviation and Air Services Agreement.
The meetings concluded the need to continue working towards the materialization of the proposed instruments, fundamental elements for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
After analyzing the levels of commercial exchange, it was found that they do not correspond to the desired level of relations between the two countries, taking into account that in the last four years (2020-2023), exports from Angola to Lebanon only yielded up to USD 20 thousand , while in the opposite direction, it was fixed at USD 18 thousand.
Angola exported lubricants and petroleum derivatives, electrical cables and agri-food products to Lebanon, having received pharmaceutical and chemical products, electrical materials, metals, and motorcycle equipment from the counterparty.
Given the modest numbers, it was concluded that more work was needed to increase bilateral trade.
Lebanon intends to diversify its exports, by sending wines, olive oil, manufactured products, agro-industrial products, cosmetics, jewelry, among others.
It also intends to improve its cooperation in the Scientific and Cultural domain, through its network of hospitals and doctors, as well as its Universities, highly ranked in the world rankings.
It should be noted that the Lebanese authorities, on the basis of reciprocity, aim for the possibility of having resident ambassadors.
The Angolan ambassador to Lebanon resides in Cairo, and the Lebanese ambassador to Angola resides in Pretoria.
Diplomatic contacts also made it possible to address the political and economic situation in the region and in Lebanon, in particular, with the Lebanese side reporting that from a political point of view, the situation in Gaza and South Lebanon “has disturbed the economic development of the country”.
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