By Juvenal Quicassa,
Africa-Press – Angola. At a time when Angola is trying to turn the page on its long-standing dependence on oil, it’s important to stop and think: after all, who is really controlling and investing in the other sectors of our economy, besides oil?
Looking closely at the facts, both in terms of numbers and in everyday experiences, we see that two groups stand out: the Chinese and the Lebanese. Each, in their own way, is shaping our non-oil economy.
On the one hand, the Chinese are today, without a shadow of a doubt, the largest foreign investors in non-oil sectors. It’s worth noting that, with the end of our civil war in 2002, agreements between Angola and China gave the country a new face. Roads, railways, schools, hospitals, and even the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport were built, all thanks to financing guaranteed by our own oil. Such projects, of course, were almost always carried out by Chinese companies.
But the Chinese aren’t limited to large-scale projects. They’re also involved in the manufacturing industry, particularly in the Luanda-Bengo Special Economic Zone (ZEE), in information technology with companies like Huawei and ZTE, in large shopping centers like Cidade da China, Kilamba Shopping, Shopping Popular, and Walema Park, offering goods and services at prices within Angolans’ reach, and even in wholesale trade. Still, in this last area, the Lebanese are the real masters.
It is precisely at this point that another, quieter but very steadfast force enters the picture: the Lebanese community. They’ve been here for many years and have created a well-organized network of businesses, with strong family ties. Today, they dominate much of the wholesale and retail trade, import essential products, control food distribution, and have a significant presence in the hotel and restaurant sector. Just take a stroll through Luanda or other large cities, and you’ll notice: in supermarkets, in large stores, in transport companies, the Lebanese are there.
Thus, we can consider the following binomial: if the Chinese build the country with large-scale projects and infrastructure, the Lebanese drive the day-to-day economy, delivering products to markets, warehouses, and families’ homes.
Today, most of the products that ordinary citizens can buy, from cookware, clothes, folders, toys, furniture, and even electronic devices, come from China. This has a direct impact on the pockets and lives of Angolans:
— Lower prices: Chinese products are generally cheaper, which fits better into the tight budgets of most families, who are increasingly suffering from market price volatility.
— Variety: there are products for almost all tastes and budgets, from the simplest to the medium-sized.
— Less dependence on the West: as European and Brazilian products became very expensive, the Chinese took over the space, especially in formal stores, losing only to the Lebanese, who dominate the informal sector.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that some criticize the quality of some Chinese products. However, it is an irrefutable truth that today, low- and middle-income Angolans rely heavily on these products for their daily lives.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Lebanese continue to operate quickly, with great flexibility and knowledge of the terrain. They know how to navigate the Angolan context, often outperforming national and even foreign companies, particularly in their ability to supply the market and build customer loyalty.
But even with these gains, this relationship raises serious concerns. Chinese investment, for example, while significantly improving the country’s infrastructure, could end up increasing its debt and dependency ratio, especially if not accompanied by technology transfer or training for Angolans.
On the Lebanese side, the problem is informality. Much of the trade takes place outside the law, with little oversight, which hinders fair competition and harms national companies, which are unable to compete on equal terms.
These two axes undoubtedly constitute the binomial of concern that we should consider and reflect on the most appropriate measures to address these variables. In keeping with this, for this foreign presence to continue to be an asset and not become a trap, the Angolan state needs to take some strategic measures:
1 — Negotiate better with China , demanding real benefits for Angola, such as training for young people, more skilled jobs for nationals, and support for the growth of local value chains.
2 — Organize informal trade , with clear laws and firm supervision, ensuring that everyone (nationals and foreigners) play by the same rules.
3 — Support Angolan entrepreneurs , with access to credit, training and less bureaucracy, so they can truly compete.
4 — Invest in factories with Chinese capital , but which serve to replace imports and increase national production.
Diversifying the economy is more than a pretty goal on paper; it’s urgent. But it can’t be achieved with foreign capital alone. It requires vision from the state and the courage to regulate and include Angolans in this game.
Between Chinese construction and Lebanese trade, Angola is still searching for its own future. Because what’s at stake isn’t just economics, it’s sovereignty.
The Chinese presence has already changed our daily lives: from telecommunications to home appliances, from furniture to clothing, almost everything is “Made in China.” Now, the challenge is to transform this reality into an increasingly fair partnership that strengthens national industry and serves, above all, the Angolan people, as has been the case until now.
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