Luanda — The weather forecast is a tool for the planning of various short-term socio-economic activities, said this Thursday, in Luanda, the director general of the National Hydro-Meteorology and Geophysics Institute (INAMET), Luís Constantino.

The official, who was speaking during the opening of the workshop on "Weather forecast for the 2008-2009 rainy season", mentioned agriculture, health, hydric resources and environment as sectors that need weather prediction in order to carry out their activities.

Luís Constantino referred that, meteorology services contribute greatly to the country's economy although they do not provide revenues to the State.

"With a functional meteorological service, to predict all the phenomena, which is currently a serious problem for any country, the government can assign priorities of activity", he said.

The gathering, which is expected to end this Friday and being attended by representatives of various State institutions, is analysing topics such as the "Climatic Characteristics of the year 2006-2007", "The Importance of Climatic Information in the Quick Alert System for Food Security in Angola", "Climatic Changes and the Earthquake Network of Angola: First Results", among others.

The themes shall be addressed by staff of the Meteorology Institute and of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.