Africa-Press – Angola. The holding of the third conference on the country’s economic prospects, called “Angola Economic Outlook2024”, is one of the highlights of news over the last seven days.
During the event, which took place in Luanda, the Minister of State for economic coordination, José de Lima Massano, presented macroeconomic data on the country’s public finances, noting that public debt rose from 34.3 billion kwanzas in December 2022, to Kz 53.1 billion, in December 2023, largely due to the depreciation of the national currency.
He said it is estimated that, in terms of finances, the fiscal accounts recorded, last year, an overall deficit balance of 2.2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and a primary balance surplus of 4.3 percent.
To counter this scenario, he explained, the Executive adopted a set of measures to stimulate the economy and boost its growth potential, focusing on food security, protection, job creation and increasing the competitiveness of products “Made in Angola”.
Also speaking at the conference were the ministers of Agriculture and Forestry, António de Assis, of Planning, Victor Guilherme, of Finance, Vera Daves, of Fisheries, Cármen Neto, and of Industry and Commerce, Rui de Oliveira, whose communications focused, among others, in the report on ongoing programs in the respective areas.
The 3rd Angola Economic Outlook Conference (AEO) took place under the motto “Food security: Reality, challenges and opportunities”, promoted by the Ministry of Planning, in partnership with the magazine Economia & Mercado.
It had two panels, during which topics related to “economic development 2023 and macro-economic perspectives for 2024” and “strategies for promoting food production” were discussed.
Also notable during the week was the inauguration of the Luena Solar Energy Park, in the province of Moxico, with an installed capacity of 25.3 megawatts (MW) and the capacity to benefit 172 thousand people.
With more than 42 thousand panels, the infrastructure cost 36 million dollars, expected to save 19 million liters of diesel per year, an investment highlighted by the ambassadors of Portugal and South Korea accredited in the country, respectively, Francisco Duarte and Kwang Jin-Choi.
The diplomats witnessed the inauguration of the park, by the sector minister, João Baptista Borge.
For its part, the National Statistics Institute (INE) began the process of recruiting 79 thousand 423 field agents, for the 2024 Census, to be held from 19 July to 19 August, throughout the national territory.
Interested parties must submit applications on the institution’s website, choosing to work in the area where they live.
The information, also from INE, reporting the 2.9% increase in the country’s economically active population, aged over 18, in the first quarter of this year, was also highlighted in economic news.
In the oil sector, articles linked to the decision to participate in TotalEnergies in the exploration of block 20, the holding of the first offshore exploration forum, events that took place in the country’s capital, as well as the ninth advisory council of the supervisory ministry, held in the province, were echoed. from Bié.
At the official ceremony regarding the participation of TotalEnergies, the minister of responsibility, Diamantino de Azevedo, made it known that the investment, which involves the “Kaminho-Bloco 20” project, is valued at six billion US dollars.
To be explored in the Kwanza basin, with an estimated reserve of 400 million barrels of oil, Kaminho is expected to produce a daily production of 70 thousand barrels, starting in 2028.
Already in the advisory council, the government official expressed the country’s intention to promote the value chain in the minerals sectors, creating infrastructures for private investors to set up cutting and refining factories for all explored material.
During the week, emphasis was also placed on the Government’s announcement on the reinforcement of the public transport fleet, with more than 600 buses, aiming to improve urban mobility in the country, in an investment of 323 million and 500 thousand euros.
Another notable fact in the period in question was Angola’s participation in the Africa Tourism Forum, in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheik, an event in which the country was represented by its ambassador to Egypt, Nelson Cosme.
The forum constitutes a platform to promote the development of tourism on the continent and agree national strategies, in one of the regions where the activity grows the most in the world and has the greatest future.
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