Angolan deputy minister of Science and Technology, Orlando da Mata, Friday in Huambo, said that the knowledge of biotechnology can be a valuable instrument in the solution of problems related to poverty, famine, unemployment, public health and environment.

The official was speaking at Huambo Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, during the opening of the regional workshop on biotechnology.

He said on the occasion that the Ministry of Science and Technology will seek a strategic alliance between biotechnology and the areas of health, agro-farming, industry and environment, in order to turn the country into a regional reference in research.

The official said that the implementation of projects focused on the development of biotechnology in Angola must be done from the sustainable development of our biodiversity, with a stress on the process of Exchange of innovating technological knowledge which, he added, is one of the goals of the Ministry.

According to him, through strategic actions that involve investments for the creation of infrastructures and appropriate legislation for the sector, the country can create a biotechnology industry turned to the production of medicines, from natural resources, food, biofuels, biomass and energies.

Orlando da Mata said that in order to attain these purposes, it is necessary the establishment of public/private partnerships, with institutions of higher education and scientific and technological research.

The regional workshop on biotechnology is part of the Government strategies for the revitalisation of the agro-industrial and business sectors.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the meeting is being attended by 100 participants, among MPs, government officials, scientists, researchers, local and foreign higher education teachers and students.