A few years ago, Angola was poised to graduate from the group of听听(LDCs), a significant milestone, since听听are in Africa. Graduating from the UN list of LDCs typically boosts investor confidence and gives countries bragging rights for their sound economic management and development progress. But the COVID-19 pandemic, external debt, oil price volatility 鈥� oil accounts for about 94 per cent of the country鈥檚 foreign earnings 鈥� and other macroeconomic headwinds slowed its progress.
Yet the country remains one of Africa鈥檚 largest economies, with recent growth powered by oil revenues and a growing non-oil sector, according to the.
Tackling poverty
Transitioning from a least developed to a developing country requires addressing many development challenges. With unemployment reaching听, according to the World Bank, the government is tackling poverty through several development pillars, including structural economic transformation, infrastructure development and human capital development. And support is coming from many partners, including the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the European Union (EU).
Our support for the private sector 鈥� has prompted the development of certification frameworks and infrastructure.
- Structural economic transformation听by investing in sectors such as agriculture,听livestock听and fisheries, and improving the ease of doing business.听
- Infrastructure development听by building modern roads,听ports听and logistics hubs.
- Human capital development听by training its entrepreneurs in essential skills and knowledge.
Taking a whole-of-society approach
The Train for Trade II programme is unique because of its holistic and whole-of-society approach. It addresses several development challenges simultaneously, ensuring mutually reinforcing positive outcomes.
UNCTAD听Director of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes,听Paul Akiwumi,听emphasizes the programme鈥檚 extensive focus听on policy reforms, economic diversification, value chain development, entrepreneurship support, trade negotiation capacity, international export standards and enhanced trade logistics.
鈥淥n an institutional level, our support for the private sector鈥檚 ability to export such products as honey has prompted the development of certification frameworks and infrastructure within the country,鈥� says Mr. Akiwumi.
He adds, 鈥淭he programme has a profound impact, including raising a new generation of entrepreneurs destined to drive this country towards the future.鈥澨�
Olga Afonso Dicamba, director-general of the Angolan National Institute of Quality Infrastructure, says the programme is making the government more effective in implementing quality controls so that Angolan products meet international norms and standards.
We want to make sure that 鈥楳ade in Angola鈥� signifies quality.
鈥淲e want to make sure that 鈥楳ade in Angola鈥� signifies quality,鈥� Ms. Dicamba stresses in an interview. 鈥淔or example, the training workshops organized for people operating in the fisheries sector gives them standards they can use 鈥� top quality process, from production to distribution.鈥�
- Green exports: Diversifying the economy through non-oil trade opportunities.
- Commercial diplomacy: Building capacity in trade policymaking, analysis and negotiation.
- Trade facilitation: Supporting the implementation of the World Trade Organization鈥檚听.
- Transport and trade logistics: Promoting sustainable transport and trade logistics systems, corridor and cluster-based approaches.
- : Investing in small and medium enterprises and creating an Entrepreneurship Policy Framework.
- Investment: Reviewing investment policies.
- Cultural and creative industries: Strengthening the cultural and creative industries through a coherent strategy and training for public and private sector agents.
Revving up training
The听听have been impressive. A total of 2,856 individuals, comprising 1,931 males and 925 females, have received training in various fields. With hundreds of 鈥渆mpretecos鈥� revving up business activities nationwide, experts now predict an economic upswing that could put Angola on a sustainable development trajectory.
Small businesses are sprouting across the country, creating jobs for many. About 85 per cent (450 people) of entrepreneurs trained under the Train for Trade II Programme report an increase in sales and a 72 per cent annual growth rate in job creation,听. Managers of 30 of the top 100 companies in Angola have undertaken Empretec training.
In Soyo in Northern Angola,听empreteco听members of the Association of Entrepreneurs of the Province of Zaire are cultivating vast agricultural fields, building warehouses and guest houses, and providing employment opportunities.
In Luanda, the Angolan capital,听young techies are incubating startup ideas听and driving innovation.
In Huambo, the Jos茅 Eduardo dos Santos University is training a group of women and men in contemporary honey production techniques, boosting local entrepreneurship.
In听N'zeto, Antonio听Sambiamo, a local government administration official, is not only venturing into large-scale farming but also organizing six musicians into a group, hoping to leverage upcoming opportunities in the creative sector.
In Lobito, 21-year-old Ariana听Chiteculo听is starting a cake-baking and snacks enterprise, aspiring to grow it into a bakery while paying for her own college education. Her success story exemplifies how听Empretec听training empowers young women to found businesses, employ听staff听and contribute to their local economies.
Train for Trade II programme is a global success story for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Cutting red tape
To promote investment, Angolan leaders are gradually dismantling bureaucratic bottlenecks, rejuvenating intra-Angola and international trade. Their work includes ongoing reviews of the land laws, more liberal access to foreign exchange for Angolan entrepreneurs and a simplified entry visa process, among other initiatives.
鈥淥ur goal is to make Angola a hub for export in the region,鈥� says Manuel Bessa, a technical staff at the country鈥檚 export agency, Ag锚ncia de Investimento Privado e Promo莽茫o Das听Exporta莽玫es..
As diversification gains momentum, Angola is increasing mass production of products like honey, fish听and others. A massive fish aquaculture project is underway in Porto Amboim, Kwanza Sul Province, 270 km Southeast of Luanda. When operational, it could produce 1,000 tonnes听of fish annually for domestic and foreign markets.
Saraiva Santos, president of the National Association of Aquaculture, recently returned from Vietnam where he participated in the听. He predicts that 鈥�2024 will witness a massive boost in aquaculture in Angola.鈥澨�
The government is establishing logistics hubs in six strategic locations 鈥� Luvo, Soyo, Lobito, Ca谩la, Luau and Arimba 鈥� around the country, equipped with phytosanitary inspection and enhanced storage facilities. In November, the government inaugurated an ultramodern international airport in Luanda.
With UNCTAD鈥檚 support, the government is also reviewing the nation鈥檚 copyright policies to bolster the creative economy, a sector with great job-creation potential.
Catarino Fontes Pereira, president of the board of directors of the听, envisions a high level听of logistical interoperability by 2025; and officials are skillfully negotiating logistics cooperation with their counterparts in other countries.听
Keys to success
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) recognizes the Train for Trade II programme as a听, specifically its good practices for implementation. Now UNCTAD seeks to replicate its success in other countries, under a broader 鈥溾�� programme 鈥� one of the UN鈥檚 12 High Impact Initiatives to scale up action towards achieving the SDGs.
The programme鈥檚 success stems primarily from its structure, the government鈥檚 full support and effective coordination. Its broad areas of focus stimulate 鈥渟tructural economic transformation through a holistic approach to development,鈥� Mr. Akiwumi explains.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce coordinates the programme on behalf of the Angolan government, and another 22 ministries are powering its implementation, convening annually to review progress.
In addition, the programme has a ministerial-level steering committee that meets annually to set policy, review progress, and provide strategic guidance, and a technical committee with representatives from various ministerial departments. The technical committee meets regularly to identify challenges, suggest solutions, and make recommendations to the steering committee.
Also, the country鈥檚 Secretary of State for Commerce Amadeu de Jesus Leit茫o Nunes听credits UNCTAD听with effective coordination. 鈥淲e are fortunate to have UNCTAD presence in Angola to help create consensus and engage with other institutions.鈥�
Mr. Nunes hopes the EU will continue its funding beyond 31 December 2023, when the programme ends. Should it discontinue funding, he said the government would explore alternative funding sources.听
Such levels of interest and commitment have led to tangible results. They are testaments to what Angola can achieve through concerted, coordinated and collaborative efforts.
