Angola: Visit of Mozambique president chance to boost ‘derisory’ trade – Chamber

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Angola: Visit of Mozambique president chance to boost ‘derisory’ trade – Chamber

11:58 CAT | 16 May 2025

File photo: Lusa

Luanda-based Angola-Mozambique Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIAM) on Thursday hailed the visit to Angola of Mozambique’s president, Daniel Chapo, as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the two Portuguese-language countries, whose trade remains “derisory” in value.

Speaking to Lusa, the president of CCIAM, Célia Cipriano, said that Chapo’s visit to Angola represents a historic and strategic milestone for strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, stressing “that the time is ripe for action” in the field.

“CCIAM has reason to be very happy about the visit of the President of Mozambique to Angola,” said Cipriano, emphasising that the chamber has served as an “active bridge between Angolan and Mozambican businesspeople” in this regard.

“This is in fact recognition of the importance of the private sector in joint economic growth between Angola and Mozambique,” she went on, emphasising that in 2024, trade between the two countries totalled no more than around $10 million (€8.9 million).

According to Cipriano, the visit will promote new opportunities and key partnerships in areas such as agriculture, tourism, industry and vocational training.

“It’s a visit that confirms that now is the time for action and the council is very happy with this step. In fact, this is a fertile moment for entrepreneurs on both sides to explore opportunities,” she emphasised.

Cipriano acknowledged that trade is still “a little timid, but sectors such as agriculture, tourism, the processing industry and digital technologies can make a difference in terms of bilateral investment potential.”

Angolan companies present in Mozambique operate essentially in the oil, energy, logistics and agro-industry sectors, she added.

As for the presence of Mozambican companies in Angola, Cipriano emphasised that “the index is still a little modest, but it is growing,” especially in light of the strengthening of bilateral relations.

“At the moment we have thirty-eight bilateral agreements, which are fundamental to leveraging the two sides, both Angola and Mozambique,” she said. “This facilitates companies and bilateral trade.

“Trade has more or less totalled ten million dollars, which is derisory, but we’re on the right track,” she went on. “This is a step; there are many companies contacting us to help with the bilateral process and I think things will change from now on.”

As part of his visit to Angola, Chapo is to visit the Luanda-Bengo Special Economic Zone (ZEE) on Friday to identify “investment and business opportunities to be developed in Angola,” according to the chamber.

On the same day, he will attend a dinner in his honour organised by the Angolan Banking Association.

Ahead of the visit by Mozambique’s head of state, his government’s minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Maria Manuela Lucas, and the minister of mineral resources and energy, Estevão Palé, was on Thursday already in Angola as part of the delegation that is to accompany him.