Luanda — The import of 14 widely consumed products in Angola cost $336,438,285 US from January to April this year, which represented a 50% drop, compared to same period of 2023.
In 2023, the cost of importing food was set at $677,995,658 US.
Among the products imported this year, the highlights are chicken, pork and beef, rice, sugar, palm and vegetable oil, as well as wheat flour, cornmeal, beans, pasta and salt, according to the Secretary of State for Commerce and Services, Augusta Fortes.
Speaking to the press, regarding the thematic session on the Plan for Reorganization of Internal Trade and Promotion of Exports 2023/2027, held today, in Luanda, she considered the reduction of foreign exchange from imports as an improvement and efficiency of the export chain resulting from the increase in domestic production.
"There is a business opportunity to invest in the production of widely consumed products, with emphasis on rice, chicken meat, sugar, cooking oil, with a clear objective of reducing imports and promoting national production", she highlighted.
On the occasion, the Secretary of State highlighted that at least 622k tons of agricultural products were transported to the five logistics distribution centers in the country, within the framework of 500 trucks distributed by the Government.
She recalled that the 583 agricultural and marketing cooperatives formalized to date, in the seven provinces included in the Integrated Program for the Development of Rural Commerce, have contributed to this goal, namely Malanje, Cuanza-Norte, Huambo, Bié, Benguela, Caunza-Sul and Namibe.
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Regarding the Internal Trade Reorganization and Promotion of Exports Plan of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, she said that this program is based on four main objectives: supporting the growth and efficiency of productive sectors, formalizing and modernizing the internal trade sector, improve the efficiency of the export and import chain, as well as reinforce the role of the Strategic Food Reserve (REA).
On the other hand, Augusta Fortes reiterated that this Plan, supported by the Executive Diploma of May 23, 2024, prohibits the open sale of more than 70 diverse products, including live animals, meat (chicken, beef, pork, offal ), among other food items, due to improper marketing conditions.
The list of prohibited products also includes medicines, insecticides, medicinal plants and herbs, as well as furniture, electrical and gas machines and utensils, alcoholic beverages, fuels and construction materials and musical instruments.
