Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan businessman, Manuel Rodrigues, predicted on Saturday (13) that the export of salt, fish, and other products to neighboring countries and Europe, through the Lobito Corridor, will contribute to the quick growth of the municipality of Baía Farta, coastal province of Benguela.
Speaking to the press on the occasion of the municipality’s 60th anniversary, the businessman stated that the location of the district, by the sea, near the Port of Lobito and the Benguela Railway, puts it in a privileged position to do business.
“We have products that are highly sought after not only domestically, but also abroad, mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said.
One of the businessman’s investments is salt production. Referring to his saltworks, he reported that he has a monthly production of 1,500 tons.
“We intend to reach about 50,000 tons per year, at a rate of about 4k tons per month,” he announced.
He said it was a modern saltworks, with up-to-date machinery and high-quality production.
The company has 350 workers and its product is sold nationwide, with some going to the DRC.
Regarding competition with salt producers who use tarpaulins for quick production, he explained that this salt is not intended for human consumption.
“Other countries use salt produced in this way for industries. In very cold countries, the product is placed on roads to melt the ice,” he exemplified.
Manuel Rodrigues is also a pineapple producer in the municipality of Bocoio, where he owns several farms, and is the owner of the juice factory located in the outskirt.
When asked about the current situation of that factory unit, he said that it is dependent on the Bank, through the Agricultural Development Fund (FADA), to get it up and running.
He pointed out the need for sufficient fruit production to supply the factory and for this he counts on the support of the Executive in importing machinery to prepare the land.
The businessman gave the example of the lack of tomato paste production, not due to a lack of factories, but due to weak production, unable to supply the units uninterruptedly.
“In order to the factory to work, there has to be fruit production throughout the year, so we must invest heavily in agriculture,” he warned.
Regarding the equipment, he argued that it has been in place for twelve years, with some of it being obsolete because it has been in storage for a long time, so new investments will have to be made.
The municipality of Baía Farta celebrates 60 years Dec 13th, since it was elevated to the category of town, becoming a municipality this year, due to the new Political and Administrative Division.
Source: ANGOP
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