Addis Ababa — The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr Carlos Lopes paid an official visit to the Republic of Angola from July 16-19 at the invitation of the vice-president of the country, Manuel Vicente.

During the three-day visit, Mr. Lopes held several meetings with high-level government officials, including the Vice President, the Ministers of External Relations, Georges Chicoty; Economy, Abrahão Gurgel; Higher Education, Adão do Nascimento; and Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva. He was accompanied by the FAO Representative in Angola, Mr. Mamoudou Diallo.

On July 17, he delivered a keynote speech at the opening session of a Lusophone Countries Entrepreneurial Forum, where six hundred participants debated the need for Africa's economic independence. In his remarks, he said that megatrends can reinforce the continent's growth, based on strengthened political determination and sophistication. In attendance were several high level representatives, including the former President of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, the Ministers of Economy, Higher Education and Culture, Abrahão Gurgel, Adão do Nascimento and Rosa Cruz e Silva respectively.

The meetings with the country's high-level officials focused on key development policies in relation to the current National Development Plan, as well as areas that can boost transformation and regional integration with neighbouring countries.

While in Angola, Mr Lopes expounded on the legacy of Pan Africanist, Amílcar Cabral at a launch of the book, Os Desafios Contemporâneos da África: O Legado de Amílcar Cabral, by the Minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva and the Director of the National Archive of Angola, Alexandra Aparício. The launch was attended by the Former President of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, and the Former Prime Minister of Angola, Lopo do Nascimento.

Mr. Lopes also held meetings with the senior leadership of the UN Country team where discussions focused on human capacity development in the agricultural sector, ongoing work on the country's statistics and maternal care and health care projects. He highlighted the on-going restructuring of the ECA and its role in the articulation of Africa's Agenda 2063, the African Development Goals, as well as efforts to boost statistics in Africa.

Key Angola-based media, including Angolan National Television and Radio, as well as Jornal de Angola and O País conducted interviews with the Executive Secretary.