Angola–Portugal relations have significantly improved since the Angolan government abandoned communism and nominally embraced democracy in 1991

Portugal and Angola strengthen cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing

PORTUGAL
Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 23:20 (GMT + 9)

Portugal and Angola will strengthen cooperation on the economy of the sea through a memorandum signed by the Minister of Marine Affairs of ​​Portugal, Ana Paula Vitorino, and the Minister of Fisheries of Angola, María Antonieta Baptista. The agreement was signed at the end of the forum "Portuguese and Angolan entrepreneurs together for sustainable cooperation of the sea", held in Lisbon.

Minister Vitorino stressed that the new agreement provides for "cooperation in all areas of the sea," such as fishing, aquaculture and fish processing.

"On the one hand we have, at the level of the public sector, cooperation in training, and in the private sector, we will give all the support so that associations between Angolans and Portuguese can be established, with the possibility of creating joint ventures," she said.

She also stressed that this agreement aims to "create more business opportunities for the fishing and fish processing sector, and also contribute to the growth of the maritime economy in Angola and Portugal."

This cooperation will result in an "incentive to the private sector" and in the insertion of Angolans in the research and technical and scientific training programs in Portugal, added Minister Vitorino.

The memorandum will have a budget of EUR 5 million and will be valid for four years.

Vitorino also anticipated that this year a similar memorandum will be signed with Cape Verde to extend cooperation to "oceanic renewable energies and the port sector."

For her part, the Angolan minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs highlighted the importance of all the aspects contemplated in the recently signed agreement, at a time when Angola is promoting "a new paradigm" for the fisheries and sea sector.

"Portugal can provide a great contribution in terms of scientific research, particularly in the study of biomass and biodiversity, and also in the study of the fleet, which is necessary," said Maria Antonieta Baptista.

After highlighting the importance of training in the maritime economy sector, the minister appealed to Portuguese businessmen to bet on Angola.

"Angola is a giant sleepy in terms of fishing, everyone knows the biodiversity of the Angolan seas, it is a question of renewing the type of investment always taking into account the employment possibilities of Angolans," said the minister. And she assured that his country could receive Portuguese entrepreneurs to take advantage of Angola's great potential in terms of fishing.

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