From: 09/2001, To: 05/2002

PAVAROTII'S CONCERT COLLECTS OVER USD ONE MILLION

Rome, 05/29 - Over USD 1,8 million were collected at the Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti`s concert held on Tuesday in Modena, Italy, for the benefit of the Angolan refugee children in Zambia. A source told Angop that although this is a provisional amount, it is already a record for "Pavarotti and friends" charity shows, performed by the artist annually.

The money collected on Tuesday will be used for the financing of projects in the sectors of education, medical and sanitary services, development, and management and maintenance of water supply systems. The aid will benefit nearly 80,000 Angolan refugees that are camped in the centres of Mayukwayukwa, Meheba and Nangweshi, in Zambia, as well as other 30,000 displaceds in Angola`s northern Uije province. In Zambia are refugees from the provinces of Uije (northern) and Moxico (eastern).
The nine edition of the concert, attended by about 160,000 people, took three hours and was broadcasted live by the Italian "Rai Uno" Television Station. During the show, in which were also 30 Angolan children, the tenor shared the stage with other names of the world music, such as Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Lou Reed, Diana Krall, Augusto Enriques, Gino Paoli and Raf.

Two messages sent to Pavarotti were read at the concert, namely one from the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and another one of the Angolan Foreign Minister, Joao Miranda. In his letter, Kofi Annan praised the gesture of Pavarotti, whereas the Angolan Diplomat expressed a "profound gratitude and esteem" to the Italian singer on the government`s behalf. According to Joao Miranda, the initiative is an "expression of solidarity with the cause of thousands of Angolans direly affected by the consequences of a conflict that provoked their forced displacement and migration". Angola was represented at the show by a delegation headed by the Social Welfare Vice Minister, Junior Joao, that also comprised the Angolan Ambassadors to Italian and the Vatican, Boaventura Cardoso and Arlindo do Esprito Santos, respectively. The delegation was also made up of the Children`s National Institute (Inac) Director, Eufrazina Maiato. This year`s charity concert, just as the previous ones, was held under the aegis of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). According to data from the UNHCR, nearly 230,000 Angolan refugees are camped in centres in Zambia, out of them 77 per cent are women and children. The centres of Mayukwaykwa and Meheba were set up in 1966 and 1971, respectively.

USD 22 MILLION SPENT IN FIRST PHASE OF UNITA TROOPS QUARTERING ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 05/24 - The first phase of Unita troops quartering process under Angola`s recently signed peace accord has been completed on a cost estimate of Usd 22 million, the Special Commission for Logistics announced on Thursday. According to a Special Commission communique released at a balance meeting, of the amount mentioned, eight million were used in the purchase of goods from the local market.

The source also said that the goods meant to secure immediate assistance to the quartering areas were purchased from local suppliers with enough storage capacity and market competitive prices.

But, the note says, some provisions also came from external markets such as those of Brazil and South Africa.

Meanwhile, a cargo aircraft is expected on Friday in Luanda with goods from Brazil, whereas two ships will be arriving soon with provisions to assist the quartering camps. This is in addition to the one that brought in 120 containers with an assortment of goods.

ANGOLAN CABINET APPROVES DEMOBED SOCIAL REINTEGRATION PROGRAMME ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 05/23 - Angola`s Cabinet Standing Commission Wednesday in Luanda approved the social reintegration of demobilized soldiers under a programme that comprises training and professional reconversion, support for establishment of family owned businesses, creation of jobs and communitary resettlement and development of populations. According to a press note released at the end of the meeting, the implementation of the programme will count on the participation of public and private entities, including local and foreign Non-governmental organisations, churches and associations with working capacity and well related to the communities expected to receive the target populations. The partnership will be set up in line with the accords or conventions under which the duties and responsibilities of the parties involved will be stated. The programme estimated to cost 56 million us dollars, will be implemented in two years to cater for about 30,000 people, the source says.

Chaired by the Head of State, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the Cabinet session also assessed the budgetary and financial performance of the year 20001 and the first quarter of this year and recommended its approval by the Cabinet Council, ahead of its submission to the Audit Court.

The Government also reviewed the report on the customs performance of last year and the plan of work for this year and recommended a continued and strict application of the customs expansion and modernization programme thereby securing an efficient attraction of revenues. The same session also approved the accord of cooperation between the Governments of Angola and Italy and the United Nations for the execution of a Usd 3 million programme of cooperation meant for the institutional reinforcement of the Angolan public administration. The Standing Commission of the Cabinet also recommended the ministries of finance and tourism to come up with a strategy for the privatization of hotels facilitating their rapid rehabilitation and modernization.

The Government was also informed on the pace of the first phase of the Matala-Capelongo irrigation project, which is practically completed and comprises such works like rehabilitation of infrastructures of the Matala Farming Development Department, the supply of communitary equipment, supply and installation of a laboratory of pedology and a climatological station. In view of the severe humaniatarian situation facing the populations of Bungei and Chipindo (southern Huila province), the Government decided to design a Special Programme for the supply of food, clothes and medicines.

CABINET ANALYSES SANITATION OF LUANDA CITY ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 05/16 - The Standing Commission of Angola`s Council of Ministers Wednesday in Luanda analysed a study on the current state of sanitation of Luanda city, having approved the general guidelines for the removal of solid and liquid remnants in the urban and suburban areas of the country`s capital. With this decision, the Government intends to adopt a model of management grounded on the integration of the private sector, through the concession of territorial areas for the cleaning, picking up, removal and transport of domiciliary and commercial residuals, washing of roads, cleaning of drains, seasides and others.

The Standing Commission also approved the protocols related to donations and fundings granted by the African Fund for Development (FAD), for the building of primary and professional training schools.

At this meeting, the Standing Commission authorized the Angolan Industry Minister to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation about Normalization, Guarantee of Quality and Metrology of SADC and also the adhesion of the Angolan Institute of Normalization and Quality (IANORQ) to the International Organisation of Normalization.

Yet in this session, presided over by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the government approved the Angolan adhesion to the following Conventions and Treaties: Geneve Convention of the World Meteorological Organisation, Constitution of the African Union of Telecommunication (1999), Convention of the African Union of Telecommunication (1999), International Telecomunication Union of Minneapolis (1998) and Universal Posts Convention.

The Standing Comission also aproved a statement by the Angolan Government on East Timor`s independence.

LUANDA : WELL STRIKES OUT  23/04/2002 ( In energy24)

An ExxonMobil well drilled in Block 33 offshore northern Angola has come up dry. XOM was awarded the license for the block in 1999 and this is the second deepwater well to come up dry in the area. The first well, drilled further north late last year by British Petroleum, was also a dry hole. The well was drilled by the semi-submersible Leiv Eiriksson.

Because of big discoveries since 1996 in a neighbouring string of licenses, oil companies had joined a bidding frenzy for blocks 31 to 34, operated respectively by BP, TotalFinaElf, ExxonMobil and state oil company Sonangol, and ultimately paid $1.2 billion in non recoverable signature bonuses to Angola.

An oil industry official said that the companies would now have to reconsider their exploration strategies in the region. He said the first two failed wells had been drilled on geological targets that were very large, but with a relatively low chance of finding oil. However, the licenses also contain geological structures whose seismic images show "flat spots", indicating that there is a high chance of finding oil. Unfortunately, these structures tend to be small, which means it may be costly to develop them, given the water depths involved.

"Everyone is going to start drilling the flat spots now," said the official. "Perhaps they can develop them as clusters, though they are also quite far apart." Partners in Block 33 are ExxonMobil as operator with a 45 per cent interest, Sonangol holds 20 per cent, TotalFinaElf holds 15 per cent, Falcon Oil holds 10 per cent, Petrogal 5 per cent and NIR Angola holds the remaining 5 per cent.

ANGOLAN SELLING CORPORATION (LONDON) April 29, 2002

Ascorp (the Angolan Selling Corporation), a unique Public-Private venture in Africa, is meeting in Luanda to review the corporations' financial results. This comes at precipitous time in Angola's history, four weeks after a ceasefire was brokered between the Government and UNITA rebels. The ceasefire will finally allow Angola, the world's fourth largest producer of diamonds, to harness its rich mineral resources.

Ascorp was set up two years ago with a mandate to buy all of Angola's rough diamond production and to regulate and control the Angolan diamond from mine to the first point of export. Last year the company announced its first results, delivering a three-fold increase in diamond revenues for the government of Angola, from US$ 21 million in 1998 to nearly US$63 million.

This year's results are eagerly anticipated and have already been the subject of much speculation in the media. Ascorp's figures will be released against the backdrop of an industry slowdown in 2001. Botswana, United Kingdom, South Africa and DRC have all reported sharp falls in diamond sales. Diamond prices fell by 32% from DRC, 33% from South Africa and 31% from the United Kingdom (DTC and Ekati) last year. De Beers also recorded a total sales fall of over 20% in 2001. Whether Angola can buck this trend and secure a further increase in tax revenues for its largest shareholder, the Government of Angola, remains to be seen.

Noe Baltazar, CEO of Ascorp, will invite the company's shareholders, who include Lev Leviev and Sylvain Goldberg, to increase their investments in Angola, enabling Ascorp to expand its network of buying offices across the country. The shareholders are also expected to approve investments in mining communities ravaged by Angola's long civil war. In 2001 Ascorp rehabilitated schools and hospital infrastructures in the Lunda provinces and is currently discussing with medical professionals opportunities to upgrade health facilities in Lucapa.

Ascorp is geared for growth and remains committed to Angola's long-term development.

Please direct your enquiries to Ian Atkins on +244 92 318 639/+44 7810 541541 or Marcus Courage on +44 7770 234 557

ANGOLAN LAW ON NATIONAL SECURITY ADJUSTED ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 05/09 - Angola`s Cabinet Council Wednesday in Luanda adjusted the law on national security in order to adapt it to the principles of a lawful, democratic state. At the session chaired by president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the Council approved bills on national security, state secret and access to administrative documents. The documents are meant to secure the fundamental principles of security activity and monitoring mechanisms without affecting the rights and freedoms of the citizens.

The ministers council also analysed the implementation of the plan for provision of logistics for the quartering of UNITA soldiers and their families. At the session the ministers were informed on the progresses made over the last days in improving the living conditions at the quartering sites especially in the supply of food, heath care and accommodation.

The Council also approved a draft law on Trade Societies meant to update and modernise the legal framework for private businesses, acknowledging the key role reserved to private initiative in the development of the country`s economy and in a context of a free competitiveness market. The Council also passed decrees on new models for cars registration, and driving licences which are expected to be less vulnerable and valid in all Southern Africa Development Community.

Approved were also the statutes of the Judicial Studies National Institute, an institution meant for lawyers instruction and professional training of staffers with the ministries of Justice and of home affairs. A decree regulating the co-participation of the population in health costs in order to improve the services and financial status of the health sector was also approved in what is Cabinet believes will help stop bribery at helth centres. Under the document, children under 10, pregnant women, the elderly and war amputees will not pay for emergency cares.

Holders of chronic or degenerative diseases including those infected with massive contagious illnesses, the unemployed, displaced and abandoned persons will also have free services, whereas war veterans, the handicapped and retired people will be charged 50 per cent of the overall expenses.

PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES AFRICAN HANDBALL CHAMPIONS ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 05/06 - Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos Sunday congratulated the national women handball team which on April 28 in Casablanca (Morocco) won for the 6th time the African cup of Nations. "Once again the Angolan nation has been jubilant with the success reached by our women senior national team by winning for the 6th time Africa`s cup of nations, a unique fact that remains written in golden letters in the annals of our short history as independent country and of sports in Africa too", the president message says. Dos Santos said these conquests should continue in a logical consequence of the efforts spent by the country`s sports managers and the engagement of players and coaches who have demonstrated all their performance category.

The Angolan head of state stressed that "we should not lose this tradition of victory, improving this sport at all levels, through training, involving more people in the modality countrywide and modernising infrastructures.

"In my own name, of the Government and of the Angolan people, I congratulate all those who contributed to the victory that places Angola`s name at the top of Africa women handball", the president said.

For the final match Angola crushed Cote d`Ivoire 30-21 thus qualifying to represent the African continent to the World Cup taking place in 2003 in the Netherlands.

KUANZA-NORTE GOVERNOR WOOES BUSINESSES TO INVEST IN THE PROVINCE ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, MAY 5 - The governor of Angola`s northern Kwanza Norte province, Manuel Pedro Pacavira, has called on national and foreign businesspeople to invest in the region now that the country has reached peace. Speaking to Angop, Pedro Pacavira pointed out agriculture, coffee production, timber exploitating and bottling of mineral water as sectors for investment at this time, given that they do not need high expenses. He said that the exploiting of other riches in the province such as gold, diamond, iron and manganese requires an authorization from the central government, and that he will not hinder the process if requested to act.

Pedro Pacavira deplored the fact that the province has not had any national or foreign investors in spite of its potentialities, due to war. Regarding the access to the province, he said that the local airport has been restored and there is also another air-field in the city. The official stated that it is also possible to reach the province by car, citing the example of the Audit Office Chief, Juliao Antonio, that has driven to Ndalatando (capital of Kwanza Norte), some 200 kms of Luanda. The restoration of medical posts, schools, water and power supply to the districts are also numbered among the local government`s priorities.

Pedro Pacavira said that this project has been underway for three years in the districts of Cazengo, Camabatela and Golungo Alto. "With peace, the programme of restoration of social infrastructures will be extended to the municipalities of Lucala, Ambaca, Samba Caju, Bolongongo, Bango and Gonguembo", he asserted.

He said he is councious that the central government does not havy means to face the situation, given the huge tasks related to the quartering process of Unita military and the support to thousands of war displaceds that want to return home. On the other hand, Pedro Pacavira said that the local government has met, recently, with the World Food Programme (WFP) officials in the region to outline a humanitarian aid programme for the people living in Camabatela district, including families of some Unita military. He stated that in Kwanza Norte there are nearly 110,000 war displaceds in need of multifarious support.
 

PRESIDENT AUDIENCES UNSC DELEGATION ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 05/03 - The Angolan Head of State, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, analysed on Thursday, in Luanda, with a delegation from the United Nations Security Council the implementation of the Lusaka peace Accord for the DR Congo. During the audience, the Angolan Statesman briefed the UN team on the situation prevailing in that country of the Great Lakes.

The delegation, led by the French Ambassador to the UNSC, Jean David Levitte, arrived in Luanda on Wednesday for contacts with the Political Committee of Implementation of the Lusaka Accords for the DR Congo, led by Angola. At the end of the meeting, Jean Levitte told press the audience served to express the satisfaction of the international community with the evolution of the situation in Angola towards peace.

"We said that the international community is ready to give all support that the President and his government need to assist in the reconstruction of the country in peace", underlined the French diplomat. Regarding the DR Congo, he said that the Angolan Statesman analysed the matter and the delegation evoked the prosecution of the Sun City meeting, the process of disarmament, demobilization and the integral withdrawal of all the foreign troops. Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe are supporting the Congolese government in the conflict against the rebels that are backed up by Rwanda and Uganda. Jean Levitte stressed that "Sun City was a remarkable success. The Congolese participants adopted the text unanimously and it is the best stage for a transition towards democracy".

He said that now this work needs to be ended and "conclude an Accord that does not leave anyone apart, I mean an Accord of inclusion".

"We think that it is possible if all Parties are really open and prove flexibility", he stated, adding that his optimism is due to the fact that President Kabila is open to dialogue.

The French Ambassador expressed hope that the Congolese parties meet again and overcome the latest differences for the efectivation of unity in the DR Congo and to preserve its sovereignity and territorial integrity.

Jean Levitte said that the withdrawal of the troops is going well and there will be open perspectives to convene an International Conference on the Great Lakes to build economic and political cooperation among the countries in the region.

"We acknowledge the key role that Angola plays for the construction of peace in the region, just like it is building peace in its territory", he said. The UN Security Council team is expected to meet with the Political Committee of Implementation of the Lusaka Accord for the DR Congo, that is holding a meeting in Luanda. The delegation has already been to South Africa and will also fly to Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania.
 

GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE TWO DONORS CONFERENCES ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 04/30 - The Angolan government is planning to convene two international donors conferences with one meant for a programme for social re-integration of the UNITA ex-soldiers and their families and another for economic reconstruction of the country. This was announced Tuesday by foreign minister Joao Bernardo de Miranda who explained that the former which is of urgent character will be organised with the effective support of the United Nations.

He said Portugal has already volunteered to assist with mobilising the support of her European partners. The latter which is meant to mobilise means and resources for economic reconstruction of the country will be quite similar to the one organised in 1995 in Brussels.

Joao Miranda would not elaborate on the timing for the second initiative but said it will to a certain extent depend on the first one for which the Angolan government is counting on the help of the United Nations, which has been asked to mobilise the international community. The minister was addressing reporters on a meeting held with his Portuguese colleague Antonio Martins da Cruz who Tuesday started a 48-hour trip essentially destined to the relaunch of cooperation between the two countries.

According to Joao Miranda, their three-hour meeting concentrated on the main aspects conforming the bilateral cooperation. The two parties also exchanged information on the internal situation in their respective countries. Miranda said he provided his guest with details on the new situation in the Angola peace process particularly the phase of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding reached by the government and UNITA to complement the Lusaka Protocol of 1994.

The start of the next step which is essentially political, he said, will lack some conditions like unicity of UNITA in a way to convert into a de facto partner of the government in implementing the outstanding tasks of the Lusaka protocol.

COMMISSION FOR NEGOTIATIONS OF PARTIAL PRIVATIZATION OF SUGAR FACTORY

GOVERNMENT DENIES ARMS DEAL REPORTS ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 04/12 - Angolan Government Thursday in Luanda denied to have made any arms deal with French companies and that any of its such shipments might have travelled through the territory of France. In a press release, the Govenment of Angola considers as groundless the allegations of an arms trafficking. The Government also recalls that it is not accidental that such a campaign is being reactivated at a time relevant political attainments for Angolans are being recorded that, however, still require the backing and cooperation from the international community in order that the immense tasks of the national reconciliation are successfully accomplished.
According to the communique, this campaign against Angola is meant to cast into oblivion the courageous reforms implemented by the Government within an extremely adverse context, of which measures of transparency are also part.

Of the reforms highlight goes to the annual external auditing to the accounts of the National Reserve Bank, the diagnose to the oil sector by an international company selected through tender and supervised by the World Bank, the external euditing to the national oil firm Sonangol, diamond firm Endiama and its affiliates and the establishment of the audit department, the note says. To the communique, the reforms translate a firm commitment of the Angolan authorities to the best practises of good governance and the expression of a strong political will to inaugurate in Angola a new era of transparency, of governing action and of political responsibilisation of the State, its servants and agents, the paper reads.

On no occasion did the Angolan authorities concealed the shortcomings affecting their institutions, especially in the field of statistics gathering and processing, the Government admits in its release. However, it explains that this chronic weakness, that led the Angolan Government into requesting the technical assistance from the International Monetary Fund (Imf) and the World Bank (Wb), takes a particular relevance within the ambit of the contracts and pre-financings guaranteed through oil.

According to the communique, the discrepancies noted in the fiscal assets that some circles, like the global witness, in a rush and bad faith, transformed into embezzelment of resources by the Angolan authorities is, after all and only, a problem of compatibilisation of the resources resulting from financings guaranteed through oil and public expenses effected. The Government assures that it will, as agreed upon, subject to final discussion between Government and imf technical teams.

The work of harmonising the statistics is underway, the document states, stressing that as soon as it is finalized, it will become clearer that the Angolan authorities have neither to hide from anyone nor has it to be ashamed of the expenditures effected to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to defend the lives and havings of its populations. The Government of the Republic of Angola is sure that this insidious campaign will have the same ending as the otherprevious ones and that, indifferent, the people of Angola will continue its path towards peace, reconciliation, reconstruction, democracy and social justice.

Thus, the information released through the media, particularly from Portugal and France bring into question, not only the dignity and good name of the Angolan state. They also tarnish the credibility of the Government and lessen the historic deed of peace achieving, of which the president of the republic was the main protagonist that opened encouraging prospects for a sustainable development for angola and a better future for all its children. The Government deplores that on the basis of the mentioned articles that are taken over by certain Angolan media, and constituted once more by a report from a British non-governmental organisation called Global Witness and by the so-called Angolagate case.

The said report is nothing but a set of suppositions, both on the production and trade of the Angolan oil and on the acquisition of means for the defence of the country any soveign state is entitled to, the communique says. The note states that the credit and veracity of such report is called into question when it mentions a pretense bank account of one billiao and one hundred million dollars with the First Virgin Bank, in the British Islands, that is but pure fiction, as there is not even a single bank under such name operating on theses islands.

Thus, it is not difficult to assume that we are once again before an attempt of intoxication of the national and international public opinion and defamation of the Government of Angola, the note states. Moreso, any serious observer that values truth cannot take into consideration these false investigations by an organisation that does not abide by honesty and is at the service of private interests of multinationals that failed to do business with Angola, as they are damaging to our national interests, the Government communique reads.
 

UK READY TO PROVIDE MULTIFACETED ASSISTANCE ( In AngolaPress )

The British Secretary of State for Development, Mrs. Clare Short, said Tuesday in Luanda her country is ready to provide the necessary support both for Angola`s peace process and reconstruction. Speaking to journalists after an audience granted by the Angolan Foreign Minister, Joao Miranda, Clare Short said her department is particularly interested to help with improving the needy populations` living standards, especially those that were more directly exposed to the war.
The British official who started on Tuesday a two-day official visit to Angola said she was touched by the drama of those people whom she said now deserve an opportunity to lead a better life.

Britain that she recalled has participated in humanitarian assistance programmes for war displaced people, is now going to extend its contribution to the process of disarming, demobilisation and social reintegration of surplus soldiers. Clare Short stated that such assistance that will be channelled through the United Nations, comprises war diplaced people resettlement operations and asserted Britain will do its best to help the process keep its track for the soonest accomplishment. On the other hand, she said another purpose of her visit to luanda has to do with the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, using the influence both Angola and Britain have on the conflicting parties.

Judging from this factor, a combination of efforts could decisively contribute for the return of peace in that country and the establishment of an environment of sustainable peace in the region. After the audience with Joao Lourenco, the British Secretary of State headed for the planning ministry for a meeting with minister Ana Dias Lourenco. On Thursday, Clare Short will be meeting separately with the ministers of Social Welfare, Fincance and Interior, Joao Baptista Kussumua, Julio Bessa and Fernando da Piedade "Nando", respectively. Ahead of being received by the Angolan Head of State, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Clare Short, will meet with the Governor of the Central Bank, Aguinaldo Jaime.

 

SADC PARLIAMENTARIANS WIND UP PREPARATORY MEETINGS ( In AngolaPress )

The Standing Committees of the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Parliamentary Forum Monday in Luanda wound up the preparatory meetings whose recommendations and conclusions are being submitted to the body`s Executive committee. The spokeswoman of the meeting, Exalgina Gamboa, told press that the three standing Committees, namely those on regional integration, inter-parliamentary co-operation and that of gender, democracy and conflict resolution have analysed various files under the forum`s five-year plan.

She mentioned as an example that the legal Sub-Committee analysed the amendment proposed to the Forum`s constitution and approved the new logotype for the regional parliamentary organisation. The standing committees also reviewed the integration of the parliamentary Forum into the Sadc structure. The participants also examined the report on the supervision of the elections held recently in Zambia and Zimbabwe. On this, Exalgina Gamboa said that the norms and standards approved at the Windhoek (Namíbia) meeting do not fit within the juridical frameworks of the sub-region countries as yet.

Meanwhile, the forum`s opening ceremony is taking place today at the Palacio dos Congressos, with the executive committee gathering in the evening. The Forum comprises all SADC member countries, except the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is meant to contribute for the strengthening of the relationship among the parliaments and help consolidate democracies.

ANGOLA POSITIONED TO BE SECOND LARGEST AFRICAN OIL PRODUCER

Oil companies will spend $20 billion developing the deep waters off Angola during the next 5 years, positioning the West Africa nation to become Africa's second largest oil producer, said the Centre for Global Energy Studies in a late March report. Field development plans in Angola suggest that the country's oil production "will overtake that of Libya by 2006," CGES said. Angola now ranks third behind Nigeria and Libya, having surpassed Egypt and Algeria after production began from Girassol field.

With spectacular successes off Angola in recent years—"at least 21 oil discoveries since 1996"—the country's oil reserves have skyrocketed to more than 10 billion bbl from 1.5 billion bbl in 1995, CGES said. Four key blocks—14, 15, 1, and 18 operated by Chevron Corp., ExxonMobil Corp., TotalFinaElf SA, and BP PLC, respectively—are responsible for most of the reserves.

The recent discoveries turned around Angola's oil production, which had slipped to 725,000 b/d in 2001, CGES said. Output rose by more than 200,000 b/d during the first 3 months of this year as Girassol, Angola's $2.5 billion offshore development, reached its production plateau months earlier than expected, CGES reported.

Dry ultradeep, prolific blocks

Ultradeep water off Angola has proved disappointing, CGES said, with no discoveries, and the onshore Kwanza basin to the south of the capital, Luanda, is also uninspiring.

The country's four prolific blocks, however, could almost double Angola's current oil production as early as 2006, despite recent steep production declines in onshore and shallow water developments—a 5% production decline at Kuito, Palanca, and Soyo fields dropped production by 15,000 b/d in 2001.

Output from TotalFinaElf-operated Girassol field will be supplemented by production from nearby discoveries such as Rosa, Lirio, and Tulipa to maintain plateau production of 200,000-250,000 b/d. In addition to Girassol, TotalFinaElf is developing a second group of discoveries on Block 17, which centers around Dalia field.

Similar in scale to Girassol, with a reserve potential of 840 million bbl, Dalia will come on stream in late 2005, building up to a production plateau of 200,000 b/d. Like Girassol, nearby discoveries Perpetua, Violetta, Oequidea, and Anturio will be tied back to the Dalia floating production, storage, and offloading vessel to prolong peak levels of output, CGES said.

ExxonMobil's Xikomba project, which targets Xikomba and Marimba fields on Block 15, will contribute an additional 31,000 b/d of oil output to the Angolan total when it comes on stream in 2003, with production rising to a peak level of 80,000 b/d in 2004, CGES said.

Angola's oil production should average more than 1 million b/d in 2004 as the Kizomba A development on the same block, which contains Hungo and Chocalco fields, begins producing in 2004, yielding an additional 250,000 b/d at peak production.

Billion-bbl plays

ChevronTexaco's Benguela and Belize fields in Block 14 should contribute 52,000 b/d and 48,000 b/d, respectively, at peak, and on Block 18, BP's Greater Plutonio project, the country's fourth billion-bbl development, will contribute an additional 250,000 b/d. Both are due on stream in 2005, with peak production expected within a matter of months.

In 2006 ExxonMobil will start up its Kizomba B project, targeting Dikanza and Kissanje fields, CGES reported. By 2006, Angola should be producing 1.7 million b/d and 1.9 million b/d by 2007, becoming Africa's second largest oil producer behind Nigeria. Jose Barosso Manquiera, a director at Luanda's Ministry of Petroleum, has said that Angola's oil production should reach 1.9 million b/d within the same timeframe, a figure in line with the CGES production estimate.

CGES sees Angola's oil production reaching "an annual average level of 1.85 million b/d in 2007." Based solely on known discoveries, Angola's oil production should remain "1.9-2.0 million b/d until the end of the first decade of the new century," the analyst said.

Policy changes

The Angolan government's earlier anxieties concerning the pace of development have eased somewhat recently, CGES said. In November 2001 state-owned Sonangol had announced a new policy direction. Fearing that simultaneously producing several projects could lead to a 10-year growth curve in Angola's oil production followed by "an equally dramatic crash," the government suggested that new deepwater projects might be sanctioned only on a sequential basis to conserve crude oil. Sonangol was requested to study how best to manage reserves to production figures over a 35-year period instead.

The government then initiated an output cap, by limiting the maximum production rate per project, lengthening the time between development approvals, or delaying subsequent developments within each block—none of which was received favorably by oil companies that had paid huge bonuses and invested substantial sums in exploration, CGES reported. Recently however, Angola's oil minister Jose Bothelo Vasconcelos, clarified the new policy by assuring oil companies that "no restrictions would be placed on any of their existing offshore oil developments;" however, he also said no new blocks would be offered for licensing in 2002.

"With plenty of large projects in the pipeline for development, and a number of deep and ultradeepwater blocks in the early stages of exploration, Angola can well afford a moratorium on new exploration licenses for the time being," he said.

OIL COMPANIES SIGN UP TO ANGOLAN LNG PROJECT

ChevronTexaco, the US-based oil company, on Wednesday announced the incorporation of new partners into its $2bn liquefied natural gas project in Angola, according to the Angolan state news agency. TotalFinaElf, BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd, Norsk Hydro and Esso Angola, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation, have each taken a 12 per cent share in the venture. The original partners, Chevron and Sonangol, the Angolan state oil company, will retain 32per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

The LNG project aims initially to process 4 million tonnes of captured natural gas per year and TotalFinaElf’s refinery in the Angolan capital Luanda is to be utilised for the venture. The partner companies already hold significant exploration concessions in Angola, both on and offshore. The Angolan government recently banned gas flaring at new deep water developments, and the companies had been expected to co-operate with each other in enabling compliance.

It is hoped that the new partnership will reinvigorate the project, which had lost momentum during the merger between Chevron and Texaco. The start-up date had been put back to 2006. ChevronTexaco produces more than 500,000 barrels per day in Angola, which has a national output of more than 900,000 barrels per day. After Nigeria, Angola is the second largest oil producer in sub-saharan Africa.

Jose Botelho de Vasconcelas, Angola’s oil minister, recently said that he aims to double output over the next decade. Oil revenues have allowed the Angolan government to pursue its war with the rebel movement Unita, which controls much of the country’s diamond fields.

Britain on Wednesday urged the Angolan government to secure a truce with the Unita rebels by making commitments towards building a lasting peace, writes James Lamont in Johannesburg. After a meeting with Joao Miranda, Angola's foreign minister, Jack Straw, UK foreign secretary, said he had encouraged the Angolan government to cement a peace settlement rather than seek to defeat Unita militarily to end the country's 27-year civil war.

The Angolan government has preferred to wait for the guerrilla army to signal that it might be prepared to give up its armed struggle rather than taking greater initiative to push for peace itself. Talks between the government and Unita are intended to extend a ceasefire and implement the 1994 Lusaka peace accords, which include the disarming of Unita and integration of its senior members into parliament.

LUANDA: WORLD'S LARGEST OFFSHORE OIL PLATFORM INAUGURATED

Girassol, the world's largest offshore oil platform with a production capacity of 200,000 barrels of crude per day, has been inaugurated at an Angolan site, the state oil company Sonangol announced Thursday.

The Girassol deposit, operated by TotalFinaElf, was discovered in 1996 some 200 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of Luanda, but installation did not begin until two years later. Production began in December last year in the 2.8 billion dollar project.

Angola currently produces more than 700,000 barrels per day. Oil is the southwest African country's principal export, bringing in 80 percent of its revenues and accounting for 42 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).

ANGOLA, BRAZIL DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION AND REGIONAL, INTERNATIONAL AGENDA ( In AngolaPress )

Brazilia, 03/04 - Presidents Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola and Fernando Henrique Cardoso Friday met in Brazilia in discussions on matters of bilateral interest and issues on the international agenda particularly on Africa. The two leaders exchanged views on the prospects for pacification and reconciliation in Angola on which the Brazilian head of state reiterated his country remained available to contribute to the efforts of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and his government to create conditions for prompt and total pacification of Angolans.
President Cardoso also expressed conviction that the Angolan government will find adequate means to usher the residual forces of UNITA into the need for immediate cessation of hostilities thus opening up the road for an integral execution of the Lusaka protocol, according to a note from the foreign ministry. In the view of the Brazilian leader, Angola is in a position to restore peace in her terroritory and start the process of reconstruction. According to Dos Santos who had a luncheon with Henrique Cardoso, the Brazilian president is "a big friend of Angola" and that during their meeting he asked for information about the country.

Dos Santos said he dicusssed with Cardoso a variety of bilateral issues and that Brazil can cooperate with Angola in the areas of oil, civil construction and mining. Brazilian companies can also assist in civil aviation, agriculture and transports, he said.
 

ANGOLAN CULTURE SYMBOLOGY INSPIRES GERMAN ARTIST ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 03/04 - Visiting plastic artist Horst Poppe of Germany said Sunday in Luanda the symbols and force of Angolan culture inspired him into researching the significance of the country`s cultural features. The artist told Angop his work concentrated on the cultural aspects of the Tchokwe region in east Angola, which has exerted much influence on his paintings. He said the first time he came across pieces of Angolan art was in 1988 as he met Angolan plastic artist Augusto Ferreira.

According to the artist, it was through this meeting that he started doing research work on Angola culture in particular and Africa`s in general. Hosrt Poppe explained that another key factor for his work was the "strong expressiveness" of the symbology and images of the cultures of Angola peoples. Despite the big influence of the culture of the country`s eastern region, the German artist also paints frames portraying aspects of the north culture principally the mask of Uige province.

It is gratifying to work with Angolan plastic artists as they help learn deep the cultural reality of the country, he said adding that such an experience exchanging led to creating the "Conexao" cultural group which is concerned with displaying works in Angola and in Germany. Horst Poppe works with Angolan plastic artists Alvaro Macieira and Augusto Ferreira.

 

US A KEY PARTNER TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT - PRESIDENT ( In AngolaPress )

Washington, 02/28 - Visiting Angola`s head of state, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Wednesday called the United States a key partner his country can count on on the path to development and democracy consolidation. Dos Santos made his remarks at a Washington dinner hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa and the US-Angola Chamber of Trade. "We appreciate the political support we are receiving from the United States in the efforts to quell war in Angola, to strengthen the civil society, to improve the quality of our governance and to develop our economy to the benefit of all citizens", Dos Santos said.

After underscoring the contribution of US firms in the development of oil resources in the country, President Dos Santos noted that Angola secures five per cent of US oil imports and expects to see this increased in the short term.As a producing country non member of OPEC Angola wishes to collaborate with the States in a way to contribute for her energetic security, he said expressing convinction that from this cooperation Angola will obtain too the necessary benefits for the resolution of her problems.

He explained that the relations between Angola and the States go well beyond the oil sector. Other US companies are involved in successful projects in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, manufacture and financial services."New opportunities will also open up to American businesses in Angola as we have to rebuild infrastructures countrywide. We need roads, bridges, railways and public transports".

"We have to supply water, power and health cares to our people and train human resources. We have to do all this urgently in all our provinces. To succeed we have to mobilize huge financial, technical and human resources. We are thus encouraging the US participation in all this development", Dos Santos said. Accoding to the President, relations between Angola and the United States have been developing and have never been this better as now.
 

ANGOLA WITH POTENTIALS FOR SADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS LEADER ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 02/26 - Angola has potentials to take the lead in telecommunications in the southern Africa region, according to National Telecommunications (INACOM) director, João Beirão. To this end, he said, it is necessary to accelerate the measures and decisions made by the government in the framework of the market liberalisation and incentives to private investors.
Creating transparent regulations and reinforcing the credibility of the institutions in charge of their implementation and monitoring are other factors to be taken into account for the success of the work, he said.

Mr Beirao added that although telecommunications in the country are far from the desired, with reagard to the progress made in the developed world and the global objectives the countries in the north hemisphere have defined for globalisation, "We do not have much to be ashamed of in comparison with many countries in our continent". According to INACOM chief, tariffs for telecommunications services in the country are not so high if compared with those practised in SADC countries and what is likely is that the salaries are not compatible with the cost of living.

As for the reasons for difficulties in obtaining phone numbers he said that as far as the cellular phones are concerned both Angola-Telecom and Unitel made wrong estimates of the dimension and characteristics of the national market and, consequently, a bad sizing and deficient configuration of their networks. In addition to these factors, he said, there are others related to risk, to the development stage of the financial sector, and instability among others which contribute for the current restrictions in the supply.

In his opinion it is risky investing in Angola under the current macro-economic juncture but clarity of regulations and transparency in their application is extremely important to secure confidence of those investing especially when it comes to a private investor. Also, the fact that financial and banking system is not sufficiently prepared to participate in development, plus the absence of a stock exchange form a constraint to national investors who are obliged to exclusively rely on own capitals with all the restrictions they face.

 

ORNAMENTAL ROCKS PROGRAMME APPROVED ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 02/14 - Angola`s cabinet council standing commission Wednesday approved an executive programme on relaunching the ornamental rocks sector in the provinces of Huila and Namibe, south country. A communique issued at Wednesday`s session says the programme provides for revised contracts of the Rorangol and Angorrocha societies plus a set of measures meant to secure investors access to bank credit as well as rehabilitation of infrastructures and to create more attractive fiscal incentives for investment.
The council recommended the ornamental rocks sector to present a nationwide strategy for exploitation and transformation of rocks with the limits to state intervention clearly defined. Such a strategy is also to define the role of the private sector in developing the mining industry, and plan investments for construction and rehabilitation of support infrastructures.

The session also approved Angola adhesion to the International Cotton Committee, and the International Association of governments with common interest in production, export and consumption of cotton. The joining of the two bodies will permit the Angolan authorities access to key scientific, technical information on incentives to cotton cultivation.

STATE PETROLEUM REVENUES - FINANCIAL DIAGNOSIS AND MONOTORING ( In AngolaPress )
REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA MINISTRY OF FINANCE  PRESS OFICE
Angola Financial Diagnosis and Monitoring Of State Petroteum Revenues

Press Release December 2001

In November 2000, after na international bidding contest, the Government of Angola hierd a consulting company (KPMG) to perform a financial diagnosis and create a monitoring system of state petroleum revenues. This endeavor was undertaken with the support of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In order to follow up on this important task, the Government set up a Technical Group comprising qualified staff of various key institutions: the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Petroleum; the Ministry of Planning, and Sonangol. The study`s terms of reference were released publicly in June 2001.

Despite some delays due in part to na ambitious initial schedule, the Government is pleased to report that significant progress has already been made towards meeting the study`s objectives: the initial inception report is being finalized, three quarterly reports have been produced, and a detailed computer model has been designed to enable the government to monitor and forecast oil revenues.

The study& 8217;s analysis of the recording and accounting of oil revenues during 2000 is not yet complete: this complex work is expected to be concluded in just a few more months, after which the consultant will finish 2001 and than move into a maintenance and monitoring role. The Government is appreciative of the partner oil companies which are supporting and contributing to the study. As already announced by the Minister of Finance, as soon as the main work is completed, the Government`s will issue a public report based on the findings of the study. For more information please contact: Mr. Leonel da Silva at ( Phone Number 33.08.83-091-50.01.11-092-31.74.54 ) in Luanda.

Luanda, of 12 February of The 2002

FINANCIAL ADVISER TO GET 3 PERCENT OF BCI PRIVATIZATION ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 02/03- The financial consultant that will assist the government in the process of privatization of the Industry and Commerce Bank (BCI) will take a success tax of three per cent (pc). The Finance Minister Adviser, Pedro de Morais, said so on Friday, alongside the ceremony of presentation of the tenders for the selection of a financial consultant for the privatization of 51 pc of the BCI.
Pedro de Morais added that the consultant will have to, among other assignments, outline a strategy for the privatization of the Bank and carry out promotional mechanisms with a view to make the tenders of the investors as high as possible.

The tender is being contested by five consultants, and two of them have also presented their technical proposals, namely the KMPG and Activa Internacional Companies. Other proposals of the Group Banco Espirito Santo de Investimentos, AS, Ernest and Young, Sociedade de Advogados Miranda, Correia, Amendoeira Associados, Arthur Andersen, Banco Portugues de Investimento, and Mitc investimentos will be present in the next two weeks.


PARLY SPEAKER OPENS UPGRADING WORKSHOP FOR PUBLIC MANAGERS  ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 02/08 - The first national seminar meant to upgrade public managers was opened Thursday in Luanda by the speaker of the angolan parliament, mr. Roberto de Almeida. The workshop is an intiative of the Angolan Audit Department of the Exchequer, and goes on under the motto : Rigour and discipline in the management of public funds. In his opening speech, mr. De almeida said the department is a valuable instrument for the reinforcement of rigour and discipline, indispensables to the management of public goods and an efficient partner of the parliament in monitoring the execution of the general state budget. According to mr. Roberto de Almeida, this is the entity vested with the technical means for a stern analysis of the general state accounts, adding that a close collaboration must be born between the two institutions. He also said to be convinced that this seminar will bring about positive results, and wished that they could be useful to the department`s future actions. On his turn, the president of that institution, mr Juliao Antonio, made an historic narration of the creation of that department, begining from the deep changes observed after the independence, both in the juridical, political and economic scenario, which resulted in the need to control public funds. The department was inaugurated in November 2000 but opened its doors in April 2001 only. It has already been admitted into african and world organisations like "Intosai" and "Afrosai", respectively, and, in addition, it leads the counterpart institutions of the community of portuguese speaking countries (Cplp). Attending the meeting is the president of the Portuguese Assets Tribunal, Alfredo de Sousa, representatives of similar institution from Brazil, members of government and parliament, diplomats and other guests.

ONE OF COCA-COLA'S BEST MARKETS  ( In AngolaPress )

Luanda, 02/08 - The visiting chairman of the Coca-Cola company for Africa, Alex Cummings, Thursday in Luanda, called Angola as one of their best markets in Africa. Addressing reporters short after arrival in Luanda, Cummings said the Angolan market represented great prospects for future businesses of the company in Africa. He explained that his visit to Angola this time aimed to appraise the reality of the Angolan market taking into account the volume of investments already made in the country. Asked on the construction of more Coca-Cola plants in the country, Alex Cummings, said with the growth of the business and demand "we will adjust our position and our investment prospects to respond to the market". In terms of production standings, he said, Angola currently represents two per cent of Coca-Cola output as the production is still incipient although with positive results at local level. During his 2-day stay in Luanda, Alex Cummings will see some Angolan government officials liked to the productive and financial areas.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH IMF, WB IN WASHINGTON  ( In AngolaPress )
An Angolan official delegation headed by finance minister Julio Bessa reached Washington on Tuesday for talks with the international monetary fund and the World bank on the IMF monitored government economic programme. In washington, the Angolan delegation is discussing aspects related to the programme of technical assistance to the government, prospects for Angolan economy evolution for 2002, the future relationship and cooperation between Angola and the two international financial institutions.
As for the IMF monitored programme, the discussions focusing on the Angolan foreign debt including oil guarantee, macro-economic policy, fiscal and monetary accounts as well as the balance of payment.
IMF and World Bank also want to discuss with the Angolan delegation matters on the 2002 state budget, and the institutional relationship between the treasury, central bank and the "Sonangol" oil society as well as measures to reinforce governance transparency.
The Angolan delegation will also meet with some high ranking officials with the U.S. state department and the White House national security council.
Members on the Angolan team are also finance vice-minister Job Graca, central bank governor Aguinaldo Jaime, and the ambassador to the United States, Josefina Pitra Diakite, among others.
 

CABINET UPHOLDS IMF MONITORED PROGRAMME ( In AngolaPress)
Angola`s cabinet council monday in Luanda upheld the IMF monitored programme whose performance it also considered as satisfactory. The programme includes "structural" and "quantitative" measures, according to a press release from the meeting chaired by angolan head of state, Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
The release states that the former have to do with the structural social reform, aimed at triggering a reaction on the supply component of the economy, and includes aspects seeking transparency and efficiency in the central government operations, restructuring of the financial sector, of the state`s external and entrepreneural and those of the capacity to ellaborate statistic data.
The latter concern the inflation rate, international net reserves, government deposits with the central bank, the banking system net assets and limits for the external concessional indebtedness.

Also under the "structural" measures, special attention is attached to the reformulation of the budgetary structure and procedure that permited the 2002 state budget to be designed in the perespective of a consolidated budget of the public sector and the start of revision of the public acquisition system.
The cabinet was also informed that the auditing to the national reserve bank 1999 accounts have already been submitted to the IMF and world bank (WB), whereas that for 2000 is already in progress.
The government was also informed on the progresses reached with the diagnosis to the oil sector, with the 1998 and 1999 final auditing reports on the diamond firms associated with "Endiama" have already been submitted to the imf and world bank.
The session also took notice of the diagnosis on "Endiama" that will start in the first quarter of this year.
With regard to the "quantitative" measures, the meeting realized that the government 2001 macro-economic policy was satisfactory, having as one of its results the consolidation of internal and external stability of the national currency and improved fiscal accounts.
This has created the conditions for the expansion of the economic activity that is visible in the steady growth of the credit to the economy, the release also states. The international net reserves stand close to the goal set for December 2001 and the monetary basis has recorded a moderate growth, especially in the last half of the year, according to the source.
The cabinet council instructed the government economic team to continue with its contacts with the imf and wb, in order to complete, the soonest, the negotiations for the approval of a development and poverty reduction programme supported by the IMF.
The government also approved the norms for the execution of the 2002 state budget that states that no public firm under the mentioned budget is allowed to spend beyond fixed limits.
 

BUS OPERATOR LAUNCHES TAXI PROJECT ( In AngolaPress )
The private bus operator macom that started service in may in luanda this year with a large fleet is launching Tueday in Luanda its first taxi project. "Macontaxi", so the project is called, has come to offer an individual passenger transport service, with vehicles equipped with a radio-communication system and computerised control.
 

INDUSTRY MINISTER ON REDUCTION OF IMPORTS  ( In AngolaPress )
The Angolan Minister of Industry, Joaquim David, has reaffirmed, recently in Luanda, the government's support for the national entrepeneurs through the implementation of economic measures to reduce the l Production ore citors, they expressed concern over the high fiscal taxes in Angola. He voiced that the exhibitors showed, clearly, the wish and determination of the national entrepeneurs in developing the country.

TWENTY HOUSES DAILY FOR BOAVISTA RESIDENTS  ( In AngolaPress )

At least 20 houses will be built daily soon at Zango, Terra Nova, Bita and Sapu areas, to accommodate about 13,000 families transferred from Boavista high density suburb over the danger facing their shanty houses, Luanda deputy mayor, Simao Paulo, told Angop on Monday. The work will be carried out under an emergency programme approved by the Cabinet Council at its November 7 meeting.
 

34 ENTERPRISES GET GOLDEN LION AWARD  ( In AngolaPress )

Thirty-four Angolan enterprises Sunday in Luanda got the golden lion award on account of displaying new products at the national production fair "Fenapro 2001" held on November 22-25 in Luanda. A hundred and fifty exhibitors from nine of the country`s 18 provinces participated in the 7th edition of the fair promoted by Angola`s industrial association "AIA". They were Luanda, Bengo, Benguela, Huambo, Kwanza-sul, Kwanza-Norte, Uige, Cabinda and Zaire. Industry, civil construction, agriculture and commerce, were the most represented sectors, mainly the branch of small business. During the four-day show, the fair was characterized by a poor attendance due to heavy absence of businessmen, a factor that made the event less interesting and below expectations. Despite this, some contacts for future business were held. This was the case of Fata/Metang which recorded sales standing at 30,000 units of its products for civil construction.

GOVERNMENT TO STICK TO MACRO-ECONOMIC STABILITION POLICIES, MINISTER  ( In AngolaPress )

Angolan government will continue to implement macro-economic stabilisation policies, the planning minister, Ana Dias Lourenco, said tuesday in Luanda. The minister was addressing the national assembly, when presenting the 2002 state budget and government`s programme for the same period. She added on the occasion her government would also handle the economic management process and the relaunch of the economy with major transparency. Ana Dias Lourenco said a big effort will be directed to the social sphere as a means to reverse the hardship facing much of the population.To this end, she pointed out the country`s re-industrialisation through export foment policies, maintaining the strategy of substituting imports at medium and long terms. Thus, she also pointed out investements in the sectors of water and fisheries, announcing that in the field of defence and security, the government actions will focus on the consolidation of the national territory unity, on the guarantee of people`s security and on the implementation of state administration countrywide.

The projects of rehabilitation and enlargement of drinking water sypplying systems will also continue, the minister said. The planning minister announced a major articulation between military actions, humanitarian assistance and social reintegration, whereas in the framework of the implementation of the government reajusted agenda for the peace process, some actions towards the conclusion of Lusaka peace accord are expected. In the diplomatic field, priority will be given to the reinforcement of the relationship with african countries in the political, economic, commercial and cultural spheres and others, mainly with neighbouring countries.

NEXT SADC PARLIAMENTS PLENARY ASSEMBLY IN LUANDA  ( In AngolaPress )

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 11/22 - Angolan capital, Luanda, will host in april 2002, the next southern africa development community (SADC) parliaments plenary assembly going on in victoria falls, zimbabwe, the forum decided on wednesday. 60 SADC parliamentarians (except representative from Democratic Republic of Congo wednesday started to discuss matters from the forum`s standing committees. Attendants praised Angola for being available to host the next conference as there has been an old wish on their part to get in touch with Angolan reality. Thus, SADC parliamentarians warmly saluted Angola`s national assembly speaker, Roberto de Almeida, who for the first time attended this kind of event. The Forum`s plenary assembly also approved recommendations and proposals from the standing committees on regional integration, democracy, gender, conflict resolution and inter-parliamentary cooperation. One of the most debated items was the need for the establishment of closer and more permanent contacts with the regional executive secretariat.

Participants also learnt that the forum does not exist within the structure proposed by the regional organization, that being why they called on governments to endeavour to revise the situation at the next summit in Luanda. For today and Friday talks are expected between the Sadc forum and the German Parliament, mainly on information exchange and Germany experience with European Union. The event includes various talks with interventions by experts and parliamentarians, including Germans`, Heinz Hornuhug and Dreter Scholten, the executive secretary of Sadc, Prega Ramsamy, and the Forum`s deputy president, Mariano Matsinha. Themes on "the European union formation process and the national parliament involvement", the way German parliament is involved in regional administration of conflicts in European Union" and "the role of SADC parliament in regional integration" are also on the meeting`s agenda.

ANGOLA IS ALREADY A TOURISTIC DESTINY ( In Jornal de Angola )

Angola is having an increase of tourists, and part is related to the business activity, involving citizens coming from Portugal, Brazil , USA , England and France .The annual average of tourists gathering to Angola is  50,000 . Part of the success is also due to the work of one hundred travel agencies that have been dynamic in the last ten years promoting the tourism in Angola. At same time the Government , concerned with the building of new accommodations, and the recovery of  touristic infra-structures  has stimulated the incoming of new private investors  to support  the touristic activity .Angola is a member of the World Tourism Organization .In 1982,the statistics say that Angola had three  travel agencies, and 103 hotels with about 3,835 rooms, that actually are reduced to an half. The number of agencies grew up to more than one hundred , showing that the touristic activity has becoming strong, with the selling of tickets, and people circulation through different zones of the country. Zepa, Cecil , Expresso Angotur, Fertur, Equador, Austral Viagens and Caravela are among the more visible agencies. These agencies are concentrated mainly in the Capital , but also have activity in Lubango and Benguela. They also offer a valuable service to the foreign workers linked to the oil exploration.

For the operators that come to build new hotels, the Government is offering custom incentives and promoting “joint-ventures” .The intention is to get financial influxes to the touristic  infra - structures  while is being forged the legislative package .The Government is considering the creation of partnerships with Angolan entrepreneurs and areas like Leba Mountain in Huila , Kalandula Falls and Pungo a N’dongo Rocks  in Malange and Kanda Mountain in Zaire, are good references  to build infra-structures of touristic interest. , There are also areas of interesting landscaping and great ecological diversity in the Kwanza, Cunene and Chiloango rivers that can be used for implantation of hotel and touristic units.

IN ANGOLA, TERMINATION OF EXEMPTIONS RAISE THE EARNINGS AND CUSTOM SERVICES START IMPLEMENTING NEW REFORM
( In jornal de Angola )

The increase of monthly revenue on custom taxes is greater than nine million Dollars , overtaking the amount that was received by the Government  in the same period of time during the last year. It’s the revelation made by the Custom Services Director Silvio Franco Burity , emphasizing  the importance of the new procedures that have been adopted by the Finances Ministry .During the month of August the custom Service revenues were 36,5 millions of Dollars, more than 15,5 ,millions over the amount that was received last year in the same period of time .Angola was labeled before as a fiscal paradise .The country wrongly had the exemptions disease, as a result of the centralized economic system, where the Providence State could give all, without demanding taxes .Now is imperative the put this area in order. So the government is revoking, replacing and uniformizing the legislation on aspects where for many years the doors were open to  prejudices against the  country’s economy .

A new regulation on Customs is being adopted. This document will be framed by the Custom Reform Program and will be based on International Regulations to be valid not only in Africa but in all countries of the World. The legal dispositions will be simplified .In fact, since 1999 in the SADC context, and the economic reforms, the Government had to adjust its systems and procedures to the international trade development, creating a new model for the Designation and Code of Goods according to international standards. The number of taxes was reduced from 43 to 6, and reduced the overcharge of the custom tariffs, the maximum from 135% to 35% and the custom service tariff from 5 % to 2 % . The objective is to reduce the custom costs and cause the reduction of the prices for consume goods and services.

THE AFRICAN VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY ( www.avu.org )

AN IMPORTANT AGENT FOR THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

The African countries are already dedicating more interest on the benefits that are provided by information and telecommunications technology. All the regions of the world are more and more interconnected  and  we deal with issues like trade ,environment and many aspects of shared decisions in international policies where the participation of each country is very  important .

The university institutions working on-line and through satellite  are an important component of the global community contributing with  flow of updated information and the access to the experts wherever they are .The African Virtual University, is the first initiative ,   funded in 1997 through a sponsored project by the World Bank, European Union, the governments of Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and United States ,and the Intelsat . Using computer and satellite technology whose signal is spread out to 26 receiving sites , with the goal to work as an university without walls, the AVU is providing to  the African countries located in the sub-saharan region the direct access to high profile specialists and scholars working in 30 academic institutions from Africa ,Europe, Canada and America .

The African countries where it works are : Etiopia, Mauritania, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania , Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa , and we notice that the project didn’t reach yet the lusophone countries that either  are in great need to diversify their  resources or don’t have university institutions internationally integrated and recognized .

Since  1997, the AVU has  broadcast  more than 3,500 hours of instruction with interactive media to more than 24,000 students and provided seminars on e-commerce  and accounting, has an on-line digital library with more than 2,000 journals in a digital library and  about 15,000 e-mail accounts that can be accessed by the students. Furthermore, the AVU wants to offer degrees in Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering , instruction programs for professional development, teacher training ,executive business education and IT training .The AVU is living a crucial momentum due to the search of it’s first CEO that will lead the university .

UNFAIR COMPETITION IN SEMINAR (Jornal de Angola )

Under the initiative of the World Organization for the Intellectual Property (WOIP) and the Ministeries of Industry and Education & Culture,  it  was organized a seminar  about intellectual property, which goal was to inform the participants on management of conflicts  upon unfair competition, brand counterfeiting and piracy. The objective was, to warn the entrepreneurs, judges, university students, inventors , approaching maters such as : author rights and others rights ,the patent as a technological development factor ,unfair competition and the brand counterfeiting .The participants came from the border Provinces ,Cunene, Namibe, Moxico, North and South Lundas, Huila and  Benguela .

ANGOLA REVIVES WITH ROAD REHABILITATION ( In Jornal de Angola)

In several Provinces (Luanda, Cunene and Huila ) are happening road reconstruction works. As an effect of the destruction that most of the bridges, railroads and major highways, the communication with the  great areas of agricultural production became unviable . The country is compelled to cover  the deficit caused by this situation with the import of almost all products even those considered as basic and others that were exported .The Government rehabilitated already 1075 Km of roads and 45 bridges, said by the ministry for the Public Works and Urbanism, Antonio Henriques da Silva.

In Luanda two roadways were inaugurated with costs that amount on 140 millions US dollars . This project also includes the construction of   new  four roadways with estimated costs of 400 millions US dollars. According to performed studies until 1996,  one  important  crossroad  located in the Boavista Industrial area,   registered the flux of 17,000 vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Actually this number was raised to 24,000 vehicles and by 2010 will double. Luanda actually has about one third of the total population of the country.

In Cunene the National Institute of Roads is rehabilitating the segments Ondjiva-Santa Clara, Xangongo-Ondjiva and Mujombo-Tchiulo. They are about 107 Kms and constituting the main roads ending in Namibian territory. Daily there are hundreds of trucks that circulate with imported goods form South Africa and Namibia.The works are adjudicated to the Company Levon. Another Company, the Queensland International will start the next year the works on the road that connects Namacunde and Oihole , and the audits will be performed by the Weader Mayer Limited, another Namibian Consulting Company. The Province of Cunene has a  road network of about 1063 Kms .

In Huila, an important Agricultural center, the government has created five rehabilitation brigades that work on the roads that connect  Matala and Chibia, Matala – Capelongo,Chibia /Chiquatite/Capunda/Cavilongo/and Arimba – 16^th Km.,Lubango- Kipungo and Lubango-Namibe. The brigades have already the objective of work on more eight local areas as soon as the military stability is restored.

WESTERN ANALYZES ITS POLICIES RELATED TO ANGOLA

London held the conference about “The Western’s Policies related to Angola in the  New Millennium”, organized by the British-Angolan Forum and the Catholic Institute for the International Relations  to discuss the foreign policy applied to Angola by Germany, Belgium, Canada, France, Holland, Italy, Portugal and United Kingdom .

The Conference did analyze the United States’ foreign policy after the terrorist attack to New York and Washington D.C. Among the themes on discussion there are: the constitutional reform, the role of the UN and the specific analysis of the mandate of the UN Bureau in Angola and perspectives for  displaced people. Some other sessions are dedicated to the International Financial Institutions with emphasis to the World Bank Program and the IMF program.

OIL COMPANIES SHARE THE EXPLORATION OF THE BLOCK 34 (Sept.08/2001)

A settlement for oil production  in the block 34 was reached in Luanda by Sonangol, Shell, Norvsk, Philips and Braspetro. The Companies will work on ultra-deep waters and the negotiation took two years and a half .The Sonangol will have 20%, Shell 15%, Braspetro 15%,Norsvsk 30% and Philips 20% .

ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT MOVES TOWARD THE BCI (BANK FOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY) PRIVATIZATION ( In Jornal de Angola)

The Angolan Government wants to contract  one financial consultant to develop all the activities related to the selling  of at least 51% of the BCI  shares. According to the Ministry of Finances, the consultant should have also the responsibility to execute the management control transfer  from the BCI to a strategic investor or a consort .The consultant will perform also the preparatory work, structuring ,  implementation of the selling process and some activities indispensable to the privatization process.  The Ministry of Finances, appeal to the Consultant Companies , Investment banks and other Financial Societies  that have credentials in similar domains , to express their interest on offering financial consulting  services to the BCI  privatization process .There will be a committee that will compile the list of qualified companies and will give the detailed  reference terms for the privatization consultant selection after a  processing fee. The October 10^Th is the dead line for receiving the proposals (“interest manifestations”). This announcement about the intention of the Government on privatizing the BCI is due since last year, and is framed by the efforts to comply with the program monitored by the IMF (International Monetary Fund).The Government foresees to privatize the BCI by 2003,and the Privatization Committee is constituted by the Finances Vice – Ministry Job Graca, the BCI President Generoso de Almeida, the Finances Ministry consultant Jose Pedro de Morais and the BNA (National Bank of Angola ) governor Aguinaldo Jaime .

OIL COMPANY AND ASSOCIATES ON LANDANA FIELD

Angola`s oil firm and its block 14 associates announced that their outline of the landana deep water field of the countrys`s offshore was successful. According to a release from sonangol to ANGOP, the landana "2a" field preliminary results and another on two diverted drillings of 393 feet, indicate the existence of a hydrocarbons productive zone with 400 feet in three separate reservoirs.

The samples gathered from the well indicate that the reservoirs will produce high quality petroleum, with a Api density of 36 degrees and in commercially viable quantities. The delineation of the landana block will be followed by geological and engineering research meant to evaluate the reserves and development options. The block 14 comprises five companies, namely cabgoc (31 percent), Sonangol (20), Agip-Angola, exploration B.V (20), Total-finaelf-ep-angola (20) and Petrogal exploration (9 percent).
 

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