SA BUSINESS PEOPLE CALLED-ON TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ANGOLA

SA BUSINESS PEOPLE CALLED-ON TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ANGOLA

 The Angolan government has committed US$113 billion for transport and infrastructure over the next 20 years and US$3.97 billion in agricultural development amongst the key drivers of economic growth. This said by Joao Rocha of Termat Comecio Geral, a company comprising of a group of entrepreneurs with a mission of attracting and promoting South African goods and services in Angola.

Rocha was addressing the South African business delegation that is in Angola for the Angolan Feira Internacional de Angola (FILDA) trade exhibition in Luanda. The trade exhibition is currently taking place and will end today Sunday, 27 July 2014.

He called on South African businesses to invest in Angola adding that the country also has special programme of incentives for investment projects; agro-industrial processing, packaging and logistics targeted as sectors that will increase the value chain of local food production.

“Energy, water, construction materials, telecommunications, chemicals, mining and distribution are all projects where foreign investment is needed,” stated Rocha.

He cautioned that Faint-hearted businesspeople will get the going very tough in Angola as competition is very tough and there are hurdles that need to overcome when doing business in Angola. These include the long period of time that it takes to register a business in the country, cumbersome system and the high costs of formalising a business

Rocha highlighted that the top three leading countries that have established themselves in the Angolan market are United States of America, Brazil and China.

“Turkey and Spain currently are also having a strong presence in Angola, and we believe that South Africa going forward should have a strong presence too in the country,” indicated Rocha.

According to Rocha, close cooperation is critical in doing business in Angola, and South African companies should cooperate with each other in a form of value chain when supplying the market and should involve government when entering into business deals.