Angola's National Reconstruction | Reconstrução de Angola

[Matthias Offodile]

Malanje province

Malanje: Obras de construção do centro de logística iniciam ainda este ano

Malanje,10/04/2007 - As obras de construção do Centro de Logística e Distribuição (Clod), afecto ao Programa de Reestruturação do Sistema de Logística e Distribuição de Produtos Essenciais à População (Presild), iniciam ainda este ano em Malanje, informou hoje o director provincial da Indústria, Comércio, Turismo e Hotelaria, Afonso Agostinho Matari.

Em declarações à Angop, o responsável explicou que o local onde será erguido o centro já foi localizado nas imediações da comuna do Lombe, cujos trabalhos de prospecção do terreno foram realizados por uma empresa construtora.

Disse que a escolha da comuna do Lombe para a construção do centro deveu-se ao facto desta apresentar uma circunscrição adequada, bem como possuir a estação dos caminhos de ferro, que possibilitará a transportação da mercadoria de Luanda para Malanje e vice versa.

Segundo o responsável, o centro terá como objectivo abastecer os supermercados "Nosso Super" das províncias do Leste e não só, bem como permitirá ao empresário despender menos esforços na aquisição de mercadorias.

O Clod funcionará com todos os serviços necessários, dentre alfandegários, fiscalização, inspecção, entre outros.

[Matthias Offodile]

The local super/hypermarket brand "Nosso Super" really expands rapidly, it now opens its doors in Malanje!

Malanje: Obras de construção do " Nosso Super" estão na fase final

Malanje, 10/04/2007 - As obras de construção do super mercado denominado " Nosso Super", afecto ao Programa de Reestruturação do Sistema de Logística e Distribuição de Produtos Essenciais à População (Presild), encontram-se já na sua fase final, cuja a entrega do imóvel está prevista para este mês.

O facto foi adiantado hoje, em Malanje, pelo director provincial da Indústria, Comércio, Turismo e Hotelaria, Afonso Matari, realçando que a construtora Odebrecht está apenas a realizar os últimos trabalhos, como o ladrilho, rampa, escadarias, tecto falso e pintura.

Segundo o responsável, a estrutura vai gerar mais de 70 empregos directos e centena de indirectos, prevendo-se a inauguração da mesma em Maio.

Afonso Matari disse que o "Nosso Super" trará para a província grandes vantagens, uma vez que os preços a serem praticados serão baixos em comparação com outros empreendimentos.

O responsável precisou que haverá uma boa relação entre o agricultor e a gerência do super mercado, tendo em conta que os camponeses passarão a abastecer com os seus produtos de campo ao "Nosso Super".

O super mercado "Nosso Super " em Malanje encontra-se localizado no bairro da Catepa, local onde funcionava o antigo mercado das Mangueiras.

O programa do Presild foi aprovado em Agosto de 2005 pelo Conselho de Ministros com o objectivo de se colocar à disposição da população bens de consumo.

[Matthias Offodile]

Agro-Business in Luango: five newly constructed modern fruit juice factories are about to begin production in Lubango

Huíla: Fabricas de transformação de frutas da Humpata iniciam produção em Junho

Lubango, 9/04/2007 - As cinco fabricas de transformação de frutas, cuja montagem decorre no município da Humpata, a 22 quilómetros a sudoeste do Lubango, capital da Huíla, começam a trabalhar, em face experimental, a partir da primeira quinzena de Junho próximo, informou hoje o responsável pelo projecto.

Evaristo Maced, o também gestor do projecto de produção de frutas da caixa de segurança social das FAA "Nossa Terra" explicou que das cinco fábricas, três já estão concluídas e as restantes (duas) serão acabadas dentro de dois meses.

As referidas fabricas de transformação de frutas em sumos, doces, compotas, vinhos, vinagre entre outros derivados, são, segundo disse, uma sequência do projecto financiado pelo fundo da caixa de segurança das Forças Armadas Angolanas.

Aquele responsável, referiu que as unidadse fabris dispõem de um equipamento denominado "separador" para a produção de seis mil garrafas de um e meio litro para derivados diversos/hora.

Adiantou como exemplo, que a fábrica de sumos de laranja terá uma capacidade de mil litros/hora. O equipamento foi adquirido da Itália, segundo o gestor, sem precisar o valor do custo.

Assim tanto os funcionários que trabalham directamente no projecto, como os munícipes auguram, com satisfação, a abertura daquelas unidades fabris na medida em que vão reduzir o desemprego, e motivar os pequenos produtores de frutas a melhorar a sua produção.

Os empreendimentos e a fazenda com 320 hectares e 248 mil laranjeiras fazem parte de um programa iniciado em 2004 orçado em pelo menos seis milhões de dólares norte - americanos financiados pela Caixa de Segurança Social das FAA.

[Matthias Offodile]

More road construction in Angola has been kicked off!

Huambo: Iniciam-se obras de terraplenagem no troço rodoviário Alto-Hama/Balombo

Huambo, 13/04/2007 - Trabalhos de terraplenagem numa zona em estado avançado de degradação na estrada Alto-Hama (Huambo) e Balombo (Benguela) começaram a ser feitos, quarta-feira, pela empresa portuguesa M. Couto Alves, para facilitar a circulação de viaturas entre as duas províncias.

Em declarações quinta-feira à Angop, na vila do Alto-Hama, o chefe da brigada da empreiteira, Miguel Pereira, afirmou que a área a ser reabilitada é crítica e apresenta muita humidade, dificultando a circulação normal de viaturas.

Disse ainda que a intervenção da sua empresa consiste em retirar a terra fraca e a colocação de pedras e solos bons para o troço se tornar transitável, uma operação que deverá terminar sábado, para permitir a passagem de vários camiões retidos naquele eixo viário.

Antes da intervenção da sua empresa, explicou, estavam concentrados entre a comuna do Ussoque e o sector da Kuqueta, município do Londuimbali, mais de 50 camiões com mercadorias diversas, impedidos a circular nos dois sentidos devido ao mau estado de conservação da estrada.

Com a intervenção da empresa M. Couto Alves, as viaturas começaram já a circular desde quinta-feira e o número de camiões no local reduziu, pois "fizemos uma alternativa que está a permitir as viaturas transitar, apesar de se efectuar ainda com alguns cuidados", frisou.

[Matthias Offodile]

Cabinda terá Instituto Superior de Ciências de Tecnologia

Luanda, 19/04/2007 - O governador provincial de Cabinda, Aníbal Rocha, anunciou para este ano a criação do Instituto Superior de Ciências de Tecnologia, a fim de se complementar o quadro estrutural das instituições do ensino superior no local.

Anibal Rocha fez o anuncio ao falar a jornalistas sobre questões de índole socio-económica registados nos últimos tempos em Cabinda, as quais considerou positivas.

Sobre a instituição, que vai ministrar cursos na vertente da engenharia, Anibal Rocha adiantou estar em fase avançada de implementação, de acordo com os Estatutos Orgânicos da Universidade Agostinho Neto.

A seu ver, com a criação dessa instituição de nível superior será complementado o quadro das instituições do ensino superior na província, para beneficiar não só a população local, como também os estudantes das províncias limítrofes do Zaíre e Uíge e mesmo os de Luanda.

Sem avançar outros pormenores, o governador adicionou essa instituição ao Instituto Superior de Educação (ISCED) para defender que o nível académico dos habitantes de Cabinda será maior nos próximos tempos.

Nessa vertente, anunciou que no presente ano académico a província de Cabinda poderá registar a licenciatura em direito dos cinco primeiros candidatos nesse curso, matriculados no núcleo local da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade Agostinho Neto.

Para mostrar o progresso do ensino superior em Cabinda, apontou também a existência de um núcleo da Faculdade de Economia da Universidade Agostinho Neto, assim como a realização, este ano, da primeira "experiência piloto" para a instalação de um núcleo do ISCED no município de Buco Zau, numa política para "levar" o ensino superior ao interior da província.

Para os níveis mais abaixos, informou que o ensino médio está instalado em todos os municípios, entre os quais o de Cabinda, sede da província, Cacongo, Buco Zau e Belize, enquanto o ensino de base até o terceiro nível existe em todas as comunas.

Cabinda é das 18 províncias de Angola. Tem uma superfície de 7.283 quilómetros quadrados para uma população de mais de 400.000 habitantes.

[popa1980]

Do you speak portuguese then Matthias?

The problem is that all the goods in the supermarket will be from abroad. Angola is so rich in oil that they have negelected the agricultural sector which could really make Angola an amazing country. With its fertile soil, temperate zones and rivers- Angola could be one of the largest food producers in Africa. Combine that with a local agro-processing sector and the benefits would be doubled. The development in this sector is really too slow- less money on building roads in Luanda and more money on developing the central higlands.

[popa1980]

OK. Looks like the agro-processing has been taken care off. I just read about the Malanje Agro-Industrial Zone. But there has still been no large-scale coordinated plans to revive the agric sector itself.

[Matthias Offodile]

OK. Looks like the agro-processing has been taken care off. I just read about the Malanje Agro-Industrial Zone. But there has still been no large-scale coordinated plans to revive the agric sector itself.

Sorry, popa1980, but this only shows that you haven´t made an effort to read carefully what has been posted here. ...otherwise you wouldn´t pose this type of questions about Angola´s agricultural sector! Your questions are answered by reading the news.

[popa1980]

Well I've looked and I STILL cant find a larger coordinated agricultural development plan. Angola has one of the largest agricultural potentials in Africa and this sector deserves a COORDINATED MASSIVE-scale investment programme which I am still not seeing. What I see here is individual projects which are actually quite small in the grand scale of things. Thats the danger of oil. Every African country with oil has neglected its agriculture potential- Nigeria and Gabon are the worst culprits. I guess as long as you can import food for the elite.......

[Matthias Offodile]

Well I've looked and I STILL cant find a larger coordinated agricultural development plan. Angola has one of the largest agricultural potentials in Africa and this sector deserves a COORDINATED MASSIVE-scale investment programme which I am still not seeing. What I see here is individual projects which are actually quite small in the grand scale of things.

For Goodness sake, read the all articles carefully instead of voicing criticism. Quite aa few coordinated programs have been kicked off...and they are getting more and more, most of the vegetables you get in "Nosso Super" are from Angola. why do you think that the governement is building so many roads, bridges etc.? For nothing? It wants to connect the various parts of this vaaaastt country. Your are right that more can been done but more and more programs are getting started this is a stark contrast to the other oil states in Africa when they first found oil back in the 60´s and early 70´s or Equatorial Guinea in the 90s´, now a new thinking is even trickling down there too at least in Nigeria and Gabon - and more and more initiatives to revive the agricultural sector are also taking shape)...But it would be shameless to accuse Angola that they are doing nothing for the agricultural sector.
Of course, it will take a long time to rebuild the agro-potential and business Angola had before 1975 (when Angola was the third largest producer of coffee in the whole world for example), this won´t happen tomorrow. It needs a lot of strong will from all sides not just the governement, investors, efficient policies, subsidies, training etc...but I beg you, don´t shoot down the bird before it learnt to fly !

[Matthias Offodile]

Govt Invests Around USD Two Billion in Electrical Sector

Luanda, 20/04/2007- The Angolan Government aims at investing very soon about additional two billion dollars in the national electrical sector so as to recover the country`s installed electricity production capacity, said Friday in Hamburg, the Minister of Energy and Waters, Botelho de Vasconcelos.

Speaking at the II Forum on "Energy in Africa", being held since Thursday in that German city, the official informed that the measure also foresees to meet the current and future demand.

With a hydro-electrical potential estimated at 15,000 megawatts , Angolan will need, in a short term, 2,000 megawatts in order to supply the large projects of mining steel, copper, aluminium, ornamental rocks, diamonds, oil refining, among others, stressed the Minister.

In his speech, Botelho de Vasconcelos stated that investing in Angola is viable, since in the next five years the country will continue registering two digits growth rates, with this year`s growth being estimated at 28%.

The sustaining of such goals, added the Minister, demands the subduing of the improved but still prevailing current deficits of the electricity supply industry.

According to Minister Botelho de Vasconcelos, more investments in the sector, which will count with the participation of foreign private capital is fundamental, meaning that Angola is committed to the optimisation of its hydro-electrical potential.

For the effect, he explained that Government approved a legislative package that encourages and protects the participation of the national or foreign private capital. As an example, he mentioned the Laws on Private Investment, on demarcating the Economic Activity and the General Law on Electricity.

Representatives of 25 African countries, including Angola, attended this II Forum on "Energy in Africa".

[Matthias Offodile]

Local Angolan milk, yoghurt production companies start producing and distributing their goods nationwide.


Read article: http://www.angolaacontece.com/full.php?id=1962

[popa1980]

I have STILL not see any evidence that agriculture is being as seriously taken as it should be in Angola. What I have seen are relatively very small projects.

I follow the African agricultural sector with close attention, it is my "speciality". Whilst many Africans delight when a concrete shopping mall (selling goods manufactured aborad) has been constructed, I rather appreciate that a country will develop only when in can feed itself. India, China, Europe, the USA are all testament to this fact.

With the exception on Ivory Coast and maybe Kenya NO SSA country has taken agriculture really seriously after independence. In Gabon, most of the food is imported and noone really cares because they have been flush with oil money. Africans care too much about cities and too little about rural areas.

I want to see BILLIONS spent on agric. I also want to see a conrete national plan for agric. This should be of NUMBER ONE paramount national importance. If 1/4 of the money spent on regenrating Luanda was spent on reviving the food sector then I would be a very happy man.

[Matthias Offodile]

I have STILL not see any evidence that agriculture is being as seriously taken as it should be in Angola. What I have seen are relatively very small projects.

I follow the African agricultural sector with close attention, it is my "speciality". Whilst many Africans delight when a concrete shopping mall (selling goods manufactured aborad) has been constructed, I rather appreciate that a country will develop only when in can feed itself. India, China, Europe, the USA are all testament to this fact.

With the exception on Ivory Coast and maybe Kenya NO SSA country has taken agriculture really seriously after independence. In Gabon, most of the food is imported and noone really cares because they have been flush with oil money. Africans care too much about cities and too little about rural areas.

I want to see BILLIONS spent on agric. I also want to see a conrete national plan for agric. This should be of NUMBER ONE paramount national importance. If 1/4 of the money spent on regenrating Luanda was spent on reviving the food sector then I would be a very happy man.

Read the history books and you will know that Angola once had a thriving agricultural sector.

The reason why it was negleced is that when oil came , people wanted to wipe away the traditional sector which was agriculture (in some states especially Gabon - which I know pretty well - it was associated with "backwardness", but slowly things are even changing there and more and more programs and private initiatives are ...). Now more and more states begin to realize that this was a bad fault. I agree with you on Ivory Coast, the governement invested heavily in agriculture in the past (technically massively supported by France), one of the reasons why poverty in the rural areas was not as high in Ivory Coast as it is in some of the bigger states in Africa (eqal to Ivory Coast´s size) in the past (btw, I checked urban poverty statics for Abidjan some time back form the inetrnational instituions and you can believe me or not, urban poverty rates were below 5% in the early to mid 80´s in Abdijan, which was really decent for Africa, today it has sky-rocketed to somewhere between 45% to 50%)...and institutions were well and efficiently run at that time there.

As far as Angola is concerned, can´t you give that country a bit more time? Was everything perfect and rebuilt four years after Gemany´s II World War ended, was Malaysia that shiny state it is now in 1964, were the Gulf States all flourishing as they are doing now in the early 70´s??? angola is a deeply bruised country, it suffered so terribly in the past, it needs some more time to get back on its feet and infrastructure is currently the priority, you need roads, bridges, dams, demined fields first before relaunching massive agricultural multi-billion dollar agro- production, but at least things are showing in the right direction. Wait another ten years and things will be different, Africans always want everything now, on the spot or in the next hour or so. We need to exersize some more patience in order to achieve long-term goals.


PS: Can I ask you where do you come from? Are you Zimbabwean or are you Sudanese? And how old are you?

[popa1980]

Angola is spending just over 1.5% of its GDP in agriculture. Including rural infrastructure that makes 2.5% of GDP- FAO website!! That compares to the average of 6% for SSA. Thats hardly taking agriculture seriously.

How do you justify spending $1bill on roads in Luanda but spend a paltry 2.5%on agriculture and rural development in the ENTIRE country. The situation remains that more is spent on Luanda than in all the rural hinterlands.

Seeing that its coming from a lower base you should be expecting it to be spending a good 10%. 2 yearts ago the Angolan government set itself a target of 15% GDP on rural development for 2008. Unless a miracle happens it will be far short of that target.

What they dont realise is that Luanda is so overcrowded because of lack of opportunities in the rural areas. You create a vibrant rural economy like HB in La Cote D'Ivoire and you solve a large part of the problem.

In Ghana (the country of my birth) the rural cocoa farmers subsidise the urbanites. The government takes FAR more from the cocoa farmers than it puts in.

I am VERY aware how long things take to reap the rewards. Look at my thread further down entitled "Patience". IF the Angolan government WERE putting the billions that they promised into the rural hinterlands then I would be happy to wait for the results.

Yes, there is SOME money going into the rural areas, unlike Nigeria and Gabon during the 60s and 70s. Is it as much as it should be though? The answer is a resounding no. And the FAO statistics clearly demonstrate the point.
Its time for Africans to give the land the respect that it deserves.

[Matthias Offodile]

Angola is spending just over 1.5% of its GDP in agriculture. Including rural infrastructure that makes 2.5% of GDP- FAO website!! That compares to the average of 6% for SSA. Thats hardly taking agriculture seriously.

How do you justify spending $1bill on roads in Luanda but spend a paltry 2.5%on agriculture and rural development in the ENTIRE country. The situation remains that more is spent on Luanda than in all the rural hinterlands.

Seeing that its coming from a lower base you should be expecting it to be spending a good 10%. 2 yearts ago the Angolan government set itself a target of 15% GDP on rural development for 2008. Unless a miracle happens it will be far short of that target.

What they dont realise is that Luanda is so overcrowded because of lack of opportunities in the rural areas. You create a vibrant rural economy like HB in La Cote D'Ivoire and you solve a large part of the problem.

In Ghana (the country of my birth) the rural cocoa farmers subsidise the urbanites. The government takes FAR more from the cocoa farmers than it puts in.

I am VERY aware how long things take to reap the rewards. Look at my thread further down entitled "Patience". IF the Angolan government WERE putting the billions that they promised into the rural hinterlands then I would be happy to wait for the results.

Yes, there is SOME money going into the rural areas, unlike Nigeria and Gabon during the 60s and 70s. Is it as much as it should be though? The answer is a resounding no. And the FAO statistics clearly demonstrate the point.
Its time for Africans to give the land the respect that it deserves.

So, what should we do now stick a rifle into our mouth and pull the trigger or what? I said to you that it needs time and infrastructure investment first, Angola is a entirely ruined country that is rebuilding! it is such a shame.....why doesn´t it get into your head?
I can´t stand all this endless criticism any more that is not followed by POSITIVE ACTION, it makes me sick and dizzy , it disgusts me, to put it bluntly! All this shit doesn´t advance our screwed-up African countries where the only work that has been efficiently and successfully done so far is that of destruction and lamenting...

[Matthias Offodile]

Angola is spending just over 1.5% of its GDP in agriculture. Including rural infrastructure that makes 2.5% of GDP- FAO website!! That compares to the average of 6% for SSA. Thats hardly taking agriculture seriously.

How do you justify spending $1bill on roads in Luanda but spend a paltry 2.5%on agriculture and rural development in the ENTIRE country. The situation remains that more is spent on Luanda than in all the rural hinterlands.

Seeing that its coming from a lower base you should be expecting it to be spending a good 10%. 2 yearts ago the Angolan government set itself a target of 15% GDP on rural development for 2008. Unless a miracle happens it will be far short of that target.

What they dont realise is that Luanda is so overcrowded because of lack of opportunities in the rural areas. You create a vibrant rural economy like HB in La Cote D'Ivoire and you solve a large part of the problem.

In Ghana (the country of my birth) the rural cocoa farmers subsidise the urbanites. The government takes FAR more from the cocoa farmers than it puts in.

I am VERY aware how long things take to reap the rewards. Look at my thread further down entitled "Patience". IF the Angolan government WERE putting the billions that they promised into the rural hinterlands then I would be happy to wait for the results.

Yes, there is SOME money going into the rural areas, unlike Nigeria and Gabon during the 60s and 70s. Is it as much as it should be though? The answer is a resounding no. And the FAO statistics clearly demonstrate the point.
Its time for Africans to give the land the respect that it deserves.

So, what should we do now stick a rifle into our mouth and pull the trigger or what? because everything is so damned hopeless I said to you that it needs time and infrastructure investment first, Angola is a entirely ruined country that is rebuilding! it is such a shame.....why doesn´t it get into your head?
I can´t stand all this endless criticism any more that is not followed by POSITIVE ACTION, it makes me sick and dizzy , it disgusts me, to put it bluntly! All this shit doesn´t advance our screwed-up African countries where the only work that has been efficiently and successfully done so far is that of destruction and lamenting...

[popa1980]

You really dont get it do you. ANGOLA IS SPENDING MORE ON LUANDA THAN IT IS ON THE WHOLE OF THE RURAL AREAS. It is spending LESS (as %GDP) than other African countries on rural development. Why doesnt it "take time" for infrastructure to develop in Luanda. BUT the rural areas are STILL waiting for even half the amount being put into Luanda. ANGOLA should be spending MORE not LESS than other African nations on rural development. It should be spenidng MORE on rural areas than in LUANDA. Europe, China, India, USA were all feeding their people BEFORE they became industralised.

There is no "endless criticsm", just cold, hard facts and statistics. You like posting stats about Angola's GDP growth so you should also accept these facts.

ANGOLA SPENDS MORE ON LUANDA THAT IT DOES ON RURAL AREAS. ANGOLA SPENDS LESS THAN MANY POORER AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

You are confusing two issues. Yes it takes TIME for the BENEFITS of infrastructure to take place but it SHOULD NOT take time to start putting the required $$$ into infrastructure. The investments that you have shown me have been pathetically paltry considering the amounts going into Luanda. The government could decide TOMORROW to spend 10% of its income on rural development but it doesnt.

From the FAO study:

"Despite the high potential of the agricultural sector, the government allocation to the sector is STILL VERY LOW. The share of the government budget is still not commensurate to the necessity to convert the enormous potential agriculture resources into effective food security and poverty reduction"

[Matthias Offodile]

You really dont get it do you. ANGOLA IS SPENDING MORE ON LUANDA THAN IT IS ON THE WHOLE OF THE RURAL AREAS. It is spending LESS (as %GDP) than other African countries on rural development. Why doesnt it "take time" for infrastructure to develop in Luanda. BUT the rural areas are STILL waiting for even half the amount being put into Luanda. ANGOLA should be spending MORE not LESS than other African nations on rural development. It should be spenidng MORE on rural areas than in LUANDA. Europe, China, India, USA were all feeding their people BEFORE they became industralised.

There is no "endless criticsm", just cold, hard facts and statistics. You like posting stats about Angola's GDP growth so you should also accept these facts.

ANGOLA SPENDS MORE ON LUANDA THAT IT DOES ON RURAL AREAS. ANGOLA SPENDS LESS THAN MANY POORER AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

You are confusing two issues. Yes it takes TIME for the BENEFITS of infrastructure to take place but it SHOULD NOT take time to start putting the required $$$ into infrastructure. The investments that you have shown me have been pathetically paltry considering the amounts going into Luanda. The government could decide TOMORROW to spend 10% of its income on rural development but it doesnt.

From the FAO study:

"Despite the high potential of the agricultural sector, the government allocation to the sector is STILL VERY LOW. The share of the government budget is still not commensurate to the necessity to convert the enormous potential agriculture resources into effective food security and poverty reduction"

Statistics, any links???, most of the developing countries growth have been urban-centred and not rural-centred in the early years. take Thailand or Malaysia for example or even Brazil, you have to start from somewhere and the problems in Luanda are really acute, so that is where investment should first flow into....you first neeed a developed base from where to "conquer"/develop the rest of the country.

Furthermore I don´t think that you have studied all the articles properly. Rural roads, schools, hospitals are getting built more and more, it is not just ONLY Luanda....but also the provinces. Bridges that are getting build are not all around Luanda (read the articles!).

Can I ask you where do you come from? Are you Ghanaian (you said you were born there), Zimbabwean or Portuguese etc., you seem to speak Portuguese? If you don´t want to say it here, send me e-mail on my account.

[popa1980]

Well we'll just have to disagree on this one. I'll let the stats speak for themselves (FAO website btw).

I speak Spanish and Portuguese because I learnt it at university. I am Ghanaian, born in Kumasi.