Africa-Press – Angola. The minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, that the ornamental Stone Development Hub, under construction in the province of Namibe, will boost industry in this area, creating an ecosystem to attract companies in the sector.
In a statement to the press at the end of his working visit to that province, the minister also said that this infrastructure adds value to natural resources, enabling the export of finished products.
The minister also stated that the province needs to create more facilities to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in the processing of ornamental stones.
He advocated for faster provision of geological information, considering effective compliance with the law to be important.
“We also need to interact with other sectors to jointly make life easier for entrepreneurs, such as providing financing for entrepreneurs and creating conditions so that potential, in terms of resources, can be harnessed through their exploration and transformation,” he added.
Filipe Oliveira, one of the project’s head, announced that since the groundbreaking in last Feb, geotechnical studies, topographic surveys, and geophysical analyses have been carried out to identify aquifers, in addition to delimiting lots and streets.
The project, he noted, comprises three main blocks: a research lab, a modern convention center, and a large exhibition area with capacity for 70 booths.
The Namibe Ornamental Rock Development Center also includes housing for 24 students, commercial areas, and a police station, reinforcing the educational, scientific, and commercial vocation of the infrastructure.
The project is being carried out by the company Telhabel, which has already established the construction site and mobilized approximately 50 employees who are engaged in the project.
The prime location ensures direct connectivity to the railway and will also feature a dry port, banking institutions, commercial areas, and tax administration, creating an ecosystem conducive to regional economic growth.
During the project visit, Diamantino Azevedo was accompanied by the Provincial Governor of Namibe, Archer Mangueira, Sonangol Chairman, Sebastião Gaspar Martins, industry officials, and representatives of the Provincial Government.
Alongside this activity, the minister also visited several companies in the ornamental stone sector and met with businesspeople from that province, with the aim of strengthening local partnerships and accelerating the development of production chains linked to natural resources.
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