Africa-Press – Angola. The Industrial Pole of Viana is richer since Thursday (9), with the inauguration, by the President of the Republic, of the “Dulceria Nacional” factory, dedicated to the production of chocolates, sweets and cookies, an investment by the multinationals Webcor (Italian) and Webcor (Argentina) worth 45 million dollars.
Accompanied by the Ministers of State, some members of the Executive, those responsible for the economic enterprise, authorities of the municipality of Viana, and several guests, the Head of State, João Lourenço, unveiled the inauguration plaque and watched the video, which portrayed different moments of growth. and operation of the new manufacturing unit.
Built in an area of 11,500 square meters and an annual production capacity of 3,700 tons of chocolates, 5,000 of candies and 7,000 of cookies, “Dulceria Nacional has 150 employees, and when it reaches its maximum production capacity it will be able to guarantee about than 500 jobs, especially for young Angolans.
The Head of State was informed that with maximum production capacity, the new factory will initially supply the national market, and secondly, all of sub-Saharan Africa, especially for the markets of South Africa, Mozambique, Congos, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana.
Clear evidence from investors
In his welcoming speech, the Minister of Industry and Commerce said that the project represents an “unequivocal proof” of investors’ confidence in the national market. He recalled that one of the main premises of the Executive is the permanent improvement of the business environment, attracting investments for the diversification of the economy, and the materialization of policies and strategies towards food self-sufficiency.
Victor Fernandes said that the “Dulceria Nacional”, in the set of many other projects underway in the country, will give greater impetus to the promotion of domestic production, particularly in the food industry.
“These initiatives will encourage and engage different actors to train, promote and create incentives for the primary sectors, for the supply of raw materials to industrial units, which are being installed throughout the territory”, said the Minister of Trade and Industry. , for whom in the 2019-2021 period, Angola spent the equivalent of US$143 million, importing 258,000 tons of products such as chocolates, sweets, and cookies.
With the inauguration of the “Dulceria Nacional”, the country will save, in the set of all units in this segment, about 37 million dollars.
The official also indicated that the country has 60 units of the kind, with a total annual installed capacity of 69,800 tons. He indicated that Luanda now has 39 units, with “Dulceria Nacional” considered the largest of the other provinces. In Huíla, he added, five units are installed, Benguela and Namibe 4 each, Malanje 3, while Bié, Cabinda, Cuanza Norte, Huambo and Zaire have only one unit each.All units (including Dulceria Nacional) employ a total of 39,487 employees.
Encouraging the production of raw materials
Victor Fernandes said that the factory inaugurated yesterday in the Industrial Pole of Viana also constitutes another incentive for the large-scale production, in the country, of sugar, cocoa and wheat (the main raw materials).
For the African Free Trade Zone, he advised, Angola, in addition to an “effective” domestic production, must have a properly structured industry and commercial network, to better take advantage of opportunities at this level.
The general director of “Dulceria Nacional”, the Argentine Fernando Di Giusto, considered yesterday “memorable”, for marking the “beginning of the dream” of producing locally brands that were previously imported by the country.
“Thanks to the existing partnership between the Webcor and Arcor Groups, our journey to produce local thinking globally began yesterday, officially”, declared the businessman, who, after thanking the presence of the Head of State, the members of the central government and and other guests at the ceremony reiterated the ambition of “Dulceria Nacional”, for the growth of the country’s food industry.
According to the businessman, the factory started producing chocolates last February 14, at the end of April this year with the production of cookies, and it is planned for next July to start producing sweets and sambapitos.
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