The financing of infrastructure projects and the instruments available for this purpose by European Union were the subject of the meeting held last February 23 rd in Luanda.

The seminar considered the various tools and methodologies available by the European Investment Bank and the European Commission. Framed under the "Joint Way Forward Angola - European Union" the initiative was promoted by the Ministry of Planning and Territorial Development and financed by the European Development Fund.

The energy sector, including renewable energy in Angola, the Energy Development Cooperation Strategy of the European Commission the innovative Financing instruments promoted by this institution, the Multisectoral Strategy of the European Development Bank on the development of Infrastructure and Opportunities for Angola, were some of the topics discussed in the seminar.

About 70 participants from various national and international institutions were present on the occasion, namely representatives from government departments, diplomatic representatives of EU member states (Belgium, Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Romania, Sweden, national private sector representatives (Industrial Association of Angola – AIA; several officials from the European Union (Delegation in Angola and European Commission headquarters) as well as a representative of the African Development Bank (ADB), also participated in the event.

At the meeting opening the Secretary of State for Planning and Regional Development, Pedro Luís da Fonseca, stresses the importance of energy as a strategic sector, whose contribution is decisive for the sustainability of economic growth allowing the reduction of production costs and thus enhance the external competitiveness of Angola.

For its part, Jaime Reis Conde, from the Financial Instruments of Cooperation Unit of the General Directorate and International Development of the European Commission presented the European Union approach in funding arrangements articulated with the new strategy of the major international financial institutions to the involvement and promotion of private investment to boost development.

The Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation concluded that there is a deep and ambitious partnership between Angola and the EU and that the “Joint Way Forward” opens a wide range of possible cooperation. This seminar was so a “first step in understanding the instruments provided by the EU for the financing of infrastructures; Angola should now look at ways of further fostering this path through continued dialogue with the EU”, he added.

For more information about the event, please watch the video at 14’ 20'' here:

Under the Technical Assistance for the National Authorising Officer of the European Development Fund in Angola / Administrative Technical Unit for ACP-EC Cooperation (UTA/ACP-CE).

CESO supported the institutional reforms in the planning sector as well the implementation of the directives established in the context of modernization and decentralization of public administration aimed, according to Angola's development strategy, to promote a better use of external resources of the European Development Fund (EDF).

The project started in March 2012 and has a duration of 5 years.

March 2016.