Dallas — Five meetings with corporate entities and businessmen marked, on Monday, the first day of work of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, in the North American city of Dallas, Texas.
The Angolan Head of State, who is in the United States of America to participate in the 16th US-Africa Business Summit, running until Thursday, granted audiences to representatives from multinationals, with whom he discussed future partnerships.
During the separate meetings, João Lourenço discussed issues related to the oil and the diamond industries with Leon Tempelsman, President of Lazare Kaplan International.
According to the source, the meeting served to touch on political relationship issues, which are progressing in a 'very positive way' between the United States and Angola.
Speaking to the press, Leon Tempelsman said that the hearing opened doors for his organization to study the best ways to expand business opportunities in Angola for US companies.
'We discussed this directly and we are looking forward to investing in Angola, as we have a long presence in the country and would very much like to continue and expand', he said, stressing that Angola is a good place for business.
He expressed a desire to expand his relations with Angola, and is therefore considering the possibility of implementation of new projects, in the long and short term.
'The President and his team are supportive and would very much like to see business development moving forward,' he said.
He stated that he witnesses notable changes in Angola, that is, constant growth and improvements.
Also today, the Angolan Head of State received Landon Loomis, president of Boeing for Latin America and the Caribbean and President of Global Affairs at Boeing, who showed the multinational's interest in supporting Angola in improving the aviation ecosystem.
According to the executive, who spoke to the press, after leaving the audience, they intend to support the country, specifically, in matters of maintenance and training of staff.
According to the source, the meeting served to discuss with President João Lourenço the Angolan Government's vision and strategy for diversifying the economy, above all, the investments planned for the aviation sector.
He said that Boeing recognizes Angola's great potential to grow in this economic segment, having highlighted that it intends to be a strong partner in supporting Angola's strategy of developing the aviation system.
Another audience granted today by João Lourenço was to a senior delegation from Coca-Cola, which expressed interest in increasing its investments in Angola.
Speaking to the press, Neil David Breslin Jr, executive director of the US-Angola Chamber of Commerce, said that the hearing served for the parties to discuss partnership in the field of sugar production in Angola.
He said that Coca-Cola does not, for now, intend to make direct investment in the agricultural sector in Angola, but intends to boost players in this market segment.
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According to the source, João Lourenço gave assurance that he intends to work with Coca-Cola on the issue of local production, in order to achieve the aim of food security and help the multinational to acquire sugar in the country.
Also on Monday, the Angolan President received Robert Cabelly, General Director of Brilhante USA - L. L. C. (Investment Perspective in the Mining Sector), and representatives of the company Elon Musk, who did not speak to the press.
In the afternoon (night in Angola) other audiences are planned with entities from the corporate and business world, as well as political entities from the USA. Elj/ART/DOJ
