Angola and Nigeria are set to deepen bilateral cooperation aimed at boosting investments and creating jobs through stronger private sector engagement.
The Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria, José Zau, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday in a statement issued ahead of the fifth Meeting of the Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Joint Commission scheduled for Sept. 9 in Luanda. The meeting will review existing agreements and memoranda of understanding, while addressing key economic challenges in bilateral relations.
Zau said no fewer than 20 agreements would be updated to provide frameworks for cooperation in defence and security, cyber and digital diplomacy, economy and trade, the judiciary, culture, air and maritime transport, telecommunications, tourism, and visa exemption.
He described the meeting as a turning point in relations, highlighting areas such as free trade, double taxation, extradition and transfer of convicted persons, and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. He noted that the commission’s work had been stalled since 2001 and expressed optimism about relaunching cooperation, especially in the hydrocarbon and petrochemical sectors.
Other priority areas include agribusiness, sustainable tourism, information technology, innovation, and the blue economy, all expected to expand youth employment and support private sector growth.
The meeting will be attended by delegations led by Angola’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Domingos Lopes, and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Two twinning agreements will also be formalised between Angola’s Bengo and Namibe provinces and Nigeria’s Nasarawa and Bayelsa states.
Zau further announced that the Angola Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency and the Angola-Nigeria Business Council would strengthen collaboration to encourage private sector-driven partnerships.
He, however, expressed concern over low trade volumes, noting that Angola’s exports to Nigeria between 2020 and 2022 were valued at 5.6 million dollars, while imports from Nigeria stood at 16.8 million dollars, leaving a negative trade balance of 11.2 million dollars.
Zau praised the historic relationship between both countries, recalling Nigeria’s support for Angola’s independence in 1975 and its contributions to the establishment of Angola’s first post-independence government. He added that President Bola Tinubu had reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to expanding cooperation and unlocking the potential of both nations.
(NAN)