Africa-Press – Angola. The Minister of State for Social Affairs, Maria do Rosário Bragança, highlighted, on Thursday, in Luanda, the role of young entrepreneurs in the country’s economy, considering them a vital part of this process.
Maria do Rosário Bragança said that young entrepreneurs stand out in several sectors, with emphasis on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), with Digital Entrepreneurship, as well as in Agriculture, Fashion and Tourism.
When delivering the opening speech at the “Youth, Innovation and Entrepreneurship” Forum, which ends today, the Minister of State highlighted the construction of the Luanda Science and Technology Park, scheduled to open in 2025, as an initiative that aims to enhance the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, in which the business sector, academia and entrepreneurs will interact.
The minister considers the diversification of young people’s projects, in the various sectors mentioned above, to be crucial for the country’s economic resilience, stressing that with the use of digital platforms, many young entrepreneurs have managed to enter the market in a more active way, improving their business models and increasing the visibility of their products.
The Minister of State also said that it is clear that young people are increasingly involved in networks and collaborative initiatives to share resources and knowledge and provide mutual support, an activity that should be encouraged by everyone, as it is essential for their development. Recognizing that current times are highly challenging, Maria do Rosário Bragança encouraged young people to be more proactive and attentive to opportunities, many of which are within their reach.
“Those who are convinced that entrepreneurship and innovation are a fad are mistaken. It is not a fad, it is a task that requires, above all, building a different mindset, to look at the world around us, identify the problems and seek to create solutions that, in an inclusive and sustainable way, help and benefit our society”, he highlighted.
The Minister of State also highlighted the fact that many companies led by young people focus on social entrepreneurship, concerned with issues in local communities, such as unemployment, education and health, thus causing a significant impact on society, demonstrating their vitality and capacity to generate transformations in people’s quality of life.
This entrepreneurship, according to the governor, is very successful because, not infrequently, it incorporates, in its products and services, the wealth of certain valuable traditions of the country, valuing the local culture.
Still on the subject of the value that young entrepreneurs achieve, Maria do Rosário Bragança pointed out that the most visionary ones also have a view beyond our local markets, seeking to get involved in the global market, with solutions to export their products and services, which is very beneficial, because they gain international exposure and experience.
Forum aligned with the NDP
Looking at the Angolan population, predominantly young, the Minister of State recognizes the need to invest increasingly more in this segment of society to generate unprecedented multiplier effects on the country’s development.
According to Maria do Rosário Bragança, the Forum on Youth, Innovation and Entrepreneurship is aligned with the aims of the National Development Plan (PDN) 2023-2027, with regard to promoting the development of human capital and stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation, which are clearly evident in the priorities of the Comprehensive Youth Development Program and the Employment, Entrepreneurship and Professional Training Program.
The minister also spoke of other programs in the 2023-2027 PDN aimed at implementing the Education, Youth, Employment and Innovation Policy, such as expanding and modernizing the education system, improving the quality of Higher Education and developing scientific and technological research, as well as promoting innovation and technology transfer.
Entrepreneurship in the Education System
Maria do Rosário Bragança said that with the implementation of the PDN 2023-2027 programs, the Angolan Government has several ongoing actions aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurship, which include financing opportunities, training programs, creation of incubation centers and other areas.
However, he stressed that the success of many of these actions depends on access to quality education, which allows the development of skills for entrepreneurship, indicating that projects are underway to integrate topics on entrepreneurship into school curricula at secondary and higher education levels.
Government and partner support
For the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Paula de Oliveira, the Forum under the motto “The Firm Step at the Forefront of Sustainable Development” marks an important step towards strengthening young human capital, directing its potential towards innovation and the sustainable development of the country.
Paula de Oliveira highlighted the invaluable support of the Support Bodies of the President and Vice-President of the Republic in making the Forum a reality and a significant milestone, which reflects an unequivocal commitment of the authorities to sustainable development and the progress of youth entrepreneurship in the country.
At the Forum for sharing ideas, exhibiting products from young people and presenting the impact of the Executive’s policies on youth for entrepreneurship and innovation, Paula de Oliveira spoke about the challenges faced by young people, which are not few, and about how essential it is that the Government and partners present at the event can collaborate to create favorable conditions for the growth of these projects, because it is recognized that they are the driving force of the Nation’s future.
Sustainable projects
One of the projects present at the Forum, presented by Minister Paula de Oliveira, is the “Tree School”, a concept adapted to reusable shipping containers, which can respond to the needs of difficult to access and more inhospitable locations.
This is a project by the company Innovation Makers Angola, a project that emerged within the scope of its social responsibility and to respond to a challenge posed by the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa.
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