Angola will soon export agricultural and agro-industrial products to the United States of America (USA), in addition to oil and gas, in o rder to diversify its exports.
Angolan and US government representatives said this at a press conference in Lua nda after the opening session of the trade and investments council meeting held u nder an agreement on trade and investments (TIFA).
The representative of US delegation, Florie Lizer, said her country intended to diversify and strengthen trade with Angola and improve the investment environmen t to bring American companies to Angola.
She complained about certain tariff barriers and business environment that some how killed the interest of American businessmen to invest in Angola.
About TIFA, Lizer said the protocol aimed at contributing to expand the bilatera l trade and partnership between Angolan and American companies.
The Angolan deputy minister for trade, Archer Mangueira said Angola had the pote ntial to export banana, pineapple, honey, coffee, fish, wood, granite and other goods to the US.
Mangueira said with projects and programmes of the Angolan government aimed at s timulating the economy and reconstruct of the country, Angola would be able to e x port various products to the United States through facilities of the African Gro w th Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The deputy minister for trade said TIFA also foresaw agreements in the transport , communication, energy and water sectors to make it more competitive.
Mangueira said that the government was working to improve the business environme nt in Angola, already visible with the approval of a new customs tariff and law o f foreign investments.
Signed in 2009, TIFA is a bilateral consultative mechanism of the US government for the promotion of trade and investments that could lead, in the future, to si g ning of an agreement on promotion and reciprocal protection of investments and f r ee trade.
