Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said Wednesday that Portugal has “open arms” to Angolan investment and that it can also help open Europe’s doors to Angolan companies.
Luis Montenegro, on the second day of his visit to Angola, addressed Angolan and Portuguese businessmen present at the Portugal-Angola Economic Forum, after visiting the International Fair of Luanda (Fielda), where he visited the Portuguese pavilion and spoke with decision makers of some of the 20 national companies present.
The Prime Minister said the executive intends to introduce a more investment-friendly tax regime to attract investment to Portugal, indirectly referring to the government’s proposal to reduce the IRC from the current 21% to 15% in three years, which has not yet been debated or voted on in Parliament.
The head of government stressed that there are many Portuguese companies that are already involved in exports and contribute to Angola’s exports, and that Portugal welcomes Angolan companies to Portugal “with open arms”.
“We are truly open to all who can believe in the Portuguese economy,” he told businessmen, stressing that “Angola opens the doors of this region, this continent, to Portuguese companies, and Portugal opens the doors of Europe to Angolan companies, the doors of another big market.”
“We are interested in attracting your investments,” he urged, stressing that Portugal has human resources of the “highest quality”, higher education institutions of “excellent quality” and potential knowledge acquired in many areas of the economy that can be used to accommodate these investments.
“My presence here is also to tell you this, to tell you (…) that we have great confidence in what Portuguese companies can do in Angola, but I also want Angolans to know that we have great confidence in what Angolans can do in Portugal,” he insisted.
The head of the Portuguese government said that investment decisions remain with companies, but assured that the aim of the executive is to facilitate investment through public policies and to unlock the potential that exists in organisations and people.
Montenegro used the traditional Angolan expression “we are together” to highlight the closeness of political and economic relations, adding that Angola’s strategic sectors such as agriculture and fisheries are also strategic for Portugal, but also “together by language” and in the bonds of friendship and culture.
Angola’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Rui Miguens de Oliveira, also noted at the forum the importance of the private sector, the backbone of the Angolan economy, saying food security is a national goal for the future.
He added that Angola wants a partnership with “all those who want to work towards this goal,” and pointed to the wine sector as an example of cooperation in which the expertise of Portuguese businessmen can help Angola in production, being “an area of complementarity for Portuguese producers to grow together with Angolan businessmen.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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