Africa-Press – Angola. The start of circulation of new 1000 and 2000 kwanza notes in the Angolan financial circuit, with the same series as in 2020, was one of the economic themes that stood out most this week that ends Saturday.
The new Kwanza remittance, which falls within the current cash management of the National Bank of Angola (BNA), differs from other current notes, essentially, due to the signature of the current governor of the Central Bank and the date of issue.
According to the BNA governor, Manuel Tiago Dias, in parallel with the 1000 and 2000 kwanza notes, the new 5000 kwanza note will also be launched soon, with the same series as in 2020.
In a press conference as part of the 116th session of the Monetary Policy Committee (CPM), held on the 14th and 15th of this month, in the province of Bengo, the Central Bank manager explained that the new Kz 5000 note will have some changes in its characteristics and security elements, in addition to also covering elements of other banknotes already in circulation.
However, the new notes and others from the same series (2020) will continue to circulate simultaneously, regardless of the date of issue.
Another topic that also dominated the Monetary Policy Committee meeting was the announcement of the increase in the BNA rate from 18 to 19%, as well as the increase in the Permanent Liquidity Lending Facility interest rate from 18.5% to 19.5%. %, with a view to controlling liquidity (money) in circulation in the Angolan economy.
The decision, motivated by the persistence of inflationary pressures in the national economy, also covers the increase in the interest rate on the Permanent Liquidity Absorption Facility from 17.5% to 18.5% and maintenance of the mandatory reserves coefficient, in national currency, by 20%.
In monetary terms, the stock of credit to the economy, in national currency, reached 4.60 billion kwanzas in February, having registered an increase of Kz 69.35 billion in the first two months of the current year.
As for Angola’s stock of foreign exchange abroad, last February, the Net International Reserves, used only in emergency situations, stood at 14.2 billion dollars, which corresponds to 7.2 months of imports of goods and services.
In the field of diamond production, this week it was highlighted that Angola sold, in 2023, around nine million 396 thousand carats of rough diamonds, corresponding to the value of 1.5 billion dollars, representing an increase of almost 12 %, compared to the previous year.
These data were presented during the ceremony to take stock of the production, commercialization and export of diamonds for the year 2023, in Angola.
On the occasion, the Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Jânio Correia Victor, said that the quantity of rough diamonds were sold at an average price of USD 163 per carat, with the main destinations being the United Arab Emirates, with 72%, and the Belgium, with 26%.
This year, the sector expects to exceed 10 million carats of rough diamonds.
Another topic that was also highlighted during the week was the entry into force of the ban on the production, import and sale of spirit drinks in small plastic sachets, known as ‘packs’.
The measure covers all factories and importers and traders of these products throughout the national territory, aiming to safeguard public health, preserve the environment and regulate trade.
According to Executive Decree No. 13/24, of January 12, the prohibition refers to spirit drinks (whiskey, vodka, gin and rum), which have a minimum alcohol content of 15 degrees (%) and are composed of ethanol. The Decree came into force after a period of 60 days given to economic operators to create new filling lines for glass containers.
Still in the domain of consumption, the highlight also fell on International Consumer Rights Day (15 March), marked by the complaint made by the Angolan Consumer Rights Association (AADIC) about the existence of many institutions in the country that work without a complaints book, in particular commercial banks, hospitals and schools.
According to the vice-president of AADIC, Jordão Coelho, this practice prevents consumers from presenting their concerns to certain institutions, which constitutes a violation of their rights.
Additionally, the person in charge also recalled that most private second cycle and higher education institutions in the country charge students monetary amounts to guarantee the curricular internship and the guidance of a tutor for the work at the end of the course, a practice that constitutes illegality.
Over the last seven days, a highlight was also the completion of the cartographic updating process in five of the country’s 18 provinces, namely Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Bengo, Cuanza-Norte and Cuanza-Sul, an action that precedes the completion of the General Population and Housing Census, to be carried out in July this year.
In this regard, the spokesperson for the Multisectoral Commission to Support the Conduct of the Census/2024, Hernany Pena Luís, assured that, within the next few days, cartographic updates for the remaining provinces will be completed.
The process that is being operationalized by the National Statistics Institute (INE) aims to define and redefine the limits of existing neighborhoods throughout the country.
Another piece of news this week was the visit of technicians from foreign companies who acquired the specifications for the public tender to choose the infrastructure manager for the Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN). This initiative brought together four foreign companies, of European and American origin, with experts in the management of airport infrastructures.
During the visit, those responsible for the respective companies verified the capabilities and potential of all the infrastructure available and ready to operate at the new airport.
To this end, the report highlights that, in recent days, the interest of yet another international operator was known, a consortium formed by Chinese companies.
Launched on November 17, 2023, the Public Tender for the Concession of the Right to Exploration, Management and Maintenance of the AIAAN provides for its concession for a period of 25 years, with the possibility of extension for another 15.
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