Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan President said that India is “a global power in strategic sectors that coincide with the priorities of the Angolan Government”, urging the development of partnerships for the development of sectors such as the pharmaceutical industry, agriculture and energy.
João Lourenço was speaking in New Delhi, at the Angola-India Business Forum, at the end of a two-day state visit to India.
The Angolan President stressed that India stands out as a world leader in the production of generic medicines and that Angola is interested in developing partnerships that allow the installation of pharmaceutical units in the country, “with a view to strengthening the national health system, reducing imports and creating qualified employment”.
João Lourenço also pointed to agriculture as another sector with “conditions that offer exceptional opportunities for investment and technology transfer”, highlighting India’s experience in agricultural mechanization, agro-industry and food production, which makes that Asian country an “ideal partner” for “transforming the agricultural sector into a pillar of the Angolan economy”.
“The promotion of joint ventures between companies from both countries can accelerate this process and generate sustainable and inclusive value chains,” he reinforced.
The Angolan head of state also indicated energy as another sector “of great interest”, both in the field of hydrocarbons and renewable energies, with emphasis on solar energy.
“Angola’s commitment to the energy transition is clear and India, with its technical knowledge and accessible solutions, can play a catalytic role in the expansion of clean energy projects, especially in rural areas, strengthening access to energy and contributing to more balanced territorial development,” said João Lourenço.
He noted, on the other hand, that Angola has a strategic position in the heart of Southern Africa, with privileged access to the regional markets of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area, with more than 1.3 billion consumers.
“This positioning, combined with political stability, the growing modernization of infrastructures and a firm commitment to regional economic integration, allows our country to establish itself as a logistics and industrial hub of excellence for Indian companies that wish to expand their operations on the African continent,” he said before the businesspeople.
João Lourenço also addressed investments in transport and logistics infrastructure, highlighting projects such as the Lobito Corridor, “which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the interior of the continent, crossing the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia and extending to the ports of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean”.
“We invite Indian businesspeople to explore these logistical opportunities that can place Angola at the center of the export strategy for Africa and the world,” he encouraged.
The Angolan President added that negotiations are underway to sign new cooperation instruments in the areas of information technology, agriculture, construction and trade, which will join others already in existence and which “will facilitate the entry of Indian companies into priority sectors” of the Angolan economy, paving the way “for joint projects with a high economic and social impact”.
João Lourenço’s visit was marked by high-level meetings held in New Delhi with the Prime Minister and President of India, as well as audiences with Indian entities linked to the business world and government policy.
Angola and India will celebrate forty years of diplomatic relations in 2025.
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