Angola Open for Investment
Washington, DC, September 12th, 2016 - The U.S. Angola Chamber of Commerce (USACC) in partnership with Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) organized a trade mission to Angola and Namibia from September 4- 11, 2016 to promote emerging sectors such as renewal energy, construction, agriculture/agribusiness, and tourism.  The delegation was led in Angola by Maria da Cruz, President of USACC and in Namibia by the Honorable Martin Andjaba, Namibian Ambassador to the U.S. and Vivienne Sequeira, Director for Infrastructure for CCA. 


The trade delegation was comprised of Justin Tinsley, Business Development for Africa - Acrow Bridge; Marcos Chaves, International Director - Anglobal; Ivo Passos, Representative - Anglobal; Robert Mesquita, Financial Manager - Anglobal; Robert Mukahlera, Government Affairs - Caterpillar; David Viela, CEO GE Angola; Wesley Oliveira, Business Development Manager - GE; Lwazi Sikwebu, Director of the Board for Commercial Development - GE South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Dennis Zekveld, Country Chairman - Shell Namibia; David Johnson, International Air & Trade Lead - Lockheed Aeronautics; Manuela Duarte, President - LuaJardim; Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Group Chairperson - United Africa Group (Pty) Ltd representative of Hilton and Protea brand with exclusive rights for Namibia, Angola and Ethiopia; Kenga Ngonda, Program Associate - USACC; Regina Noh - USACC; Jacob Flewelling, Africa Business Development Manager - U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA).

A few of the delegates from the Trade Mission to Angola and Namibia.
Left to right: Wesley Oliveira, Manuela Duarte, Robert Mukahlera, Regina Noh, Maria da Cruz,
Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Vivienne Sequeira, Justin Tinsley, Freddy U.!Gaoseb, Dennis Zekveld

 
The trade mission would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of the Provincial Government of Luanda, the Angolan Executive Branch, US Embassy in Angola, Embassy of Angola in the US, Namibian Embassy in the US, US Embassy in Windhoek, Banco Angolano de Investimentos, ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, TGI, AtlanticoMillenium, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Hilton and Hotel Diamante.

The key objectives of this trip were to 1) develop working relationships between companies that are members of our delegation, the Angolan private business community, and the Angolan and Namibian governments; 2) facilitate necessary networking to find business partnerships or investment opportunities in Angola and Namibia; and 3) contribute to dialogue about future investment opportunities.
 
The Trade Mission had a five-day schedule that began in Luanda, Angola and ended in Windheok, Namibia.
The delegates at the presentation by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC)
On September 5th, the trade mission began with a comprehensive presentation by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in Angola that brought four of their experts to discuss Angolan investment laws, concessions for special economic zones, and opportunities for tax incentives for investments located in remote parts of the country.  After the formal presentations, PWC sponsored a breakfast briefing which featured the Honorable Agostinho Tavares da Silva Neto, Angolan Ambassador to the United States.  Ambassador Tavares expressed his government's commitment to the diversification of the Angolan economy and looked forward to the trade mission delegates' coming to invest in Angola.

Left to right: José Massano, Ambassador Agostinho Tavares, H.E. Abrãao Gourgel, H.E. Higino Carneiro, H.E. Fiel Domingos Constantino , Maria da Cruz, Antonio Henriques da Silva

Following the breakfast briefing, the delegation moved to the forum held under the patronage of H.E. Higino Carneiro, Governor of the Province of Luanda.  The two hour business forum featured presentations on Angola's economic plan, incentives for investment, and the need for stronger US - Angola private sector engagement by H.E Abraão Gourgel, Minister of Economy; and H.E. Fiel Domingos Constantino, Minister of Commerce; Antonio Henriques da Silva, President of Angolan Agency for Investment Promotion and Exports (AIPEX). 
(Picture: Maria da Cruz and José Massano)
José Massano, Executive President of BAI and Chairman of USACC welcomed Maria da Cruz as President of USACC and reaffirmed his confidence in Ms. Cruz's leadership and BAI's commitment to support her and the members of USACC.  Ms. Cruz thanked the Board members for their confidence in her and H.E. General Higino Carneiro for hosting the first trade delegation led by her as President of USACC.  Ms. Cruz highlighted USACC's 25 years of serving as a forum to promote positive US - Angola economic relations.  She highlighted that the companies participating in the mission were from sectors outside of oil and gas, in line with the Government of Angola's plan to diversify its economy.  The delegates also introduced their companies and reasons for participating in the trade mission. The forum was attended by more than 80 business people.
(Picture: Governor Higino Carneiro and David Johnson after a private meeting)
In the afternoon, members of the delegation had private meetings and small sessions continued with presentations by representatives of  Djembe/ FACRA & Odell Global Investors.  Djembe is a specialist practice that provides interested companies with key information on emerging sectors.  One of Djembe's clients includes FACRA, an Angolan investment fund currently with US $250 million to invest in projects in Angola.  Odell Global Investors highlighted areas and types of funding available, namely treasury funds, oil funds, real estate fund, and private equity fund for agriculture currently with US $10 million.
The delegation ended the day with a reception held at the Thompson House and sponsored by Thompson Group International (TGI).

September 6th, the trade mission began with a closed-door briefing with the Honorable Helen LaLime, U.S. Ambassador to Angola and representatives from the economic, military and commercial service sections at the US Embassy in Luanda.  Ambassador LaLime and her staff touch on key U.S.-Angola dialogues and cooperation in the region.

 
U.S. Ambassador to Angola, the Hon. Helen Lalime during the breakfast meeting with the delegates.
The next event of the day was a roundtable moderated by Jorge Silva of Banco BAI on "Doing Business in Angola" and included presentations from: Ana Sofia Roque, Fatima Freitas Advogados; José Tamayo, President of LS Energia; Alex Thomson-Payan, President of TGI Group; John Baltz, Country Manager at Chevron Angola; Paulo Pizarro, Vice President at BP Angola; and Antony Peters, Business Service Manager at ExxonMobil Angola. Each presenters provided first-hand information on the working environment in Angola specifically the opportunities and challenges of operating in the market.  This event was sponsored by Chevron.

Left to right: José Tamayo, John Baltz, Alex Thompson-Payan, Antony Peters, Ana Sofia Roque
The delegation was hosted for lunch by Norberto Garcia, Director of Technical Unity for Private Investment (UTIP).  UTIP is an instrument for investment reporting to the President of the Republic of Angola.  Mr. Garcia explained that the reduced oil prices has provided the country with a unique opportunity to diversify the Angolan economy.  The Angolan government plans to promote national production of products through support of the private investment.  For this reason, the private investment policy includes fiscal incentives for investors.  Mr. Garcia stressed his office commitment to promoting investment, an improved business environment and reduce bureaucracy related to setting up businesses in the country.

Briefing with UTIP Director, Norberto Garcia, before the lunch.

Following lunch, the delegation attended private government meetings and then paid a courtesy visit to the H.E. João Baptista Borges, Minister of Energy and Water.  During the visit, Minister Borges discussed the government's plan to double access to electricity in the country by 2025.  This would require 9000MW and implementation of 5000kV of live transportation.  It is projected that by 2017, there should be 5000MW available.  The Ministry of Energy and Water is awaiting the arrival of a specialist on PowerAfrica to attract private investment, capital, and technical know-how through that mechanism.  Minister Borges mentioned a projected that USTDA funded the feasibility study for a 400kV line connecting the HV systems of Angola and Namibia as a part of the development of the bi-national 620 MW hydroelectric plant of Baynes.  The project has been developing slowly due to lack of financial resources.  Minister Borges reiterated the opportunities available in the sector and asked companies present to submit proposals for upcoming projects.

 
Left to right: Kiala Pierre, Ivo Passos, Wesley Oliveira, Maria da Cruz, Minister João Baptista Borges, Vivienne Sequeira, Carlos Gil, Marcos Chaves meeting at the Ministry of Energy & Water.
The last event of the trade mission in Angola was a cocktail reception featuring Ambassador Helen Lalime as keynote speaker.  The staff of the US Embassy were present as were a large group of USACC members.  Representatives from the Angolan public and private sector were also in attendance.  
Ambassador LaLime touch on the work being done by the US Embassy to encourage further economic engagement between the US and Angola.  The Embassy has focused on taking the Angolan business community to the U.S. and hopes more of those exchanges will occur.  Ambassador LaLime encouraged companies participating in the mission to use the resources available to them at the US Embassy in Angola and congratulated CCA and USACC for bringing strong companies to participate in the mission.
Picture: Ambassador Helen LaLime
September 7th - 9th the Trade Mission activities led the delegates to Windhoek, Namibia where it ended on a high note with a dinner hosted by H.E. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia and First Lady Monica Geingob. Upon arrival in Windhoek, the delegates were greeted by Ambassador Martin Anjaba and Freddy U.!Gaoseb, Economic Chancellor at the Namibian Embassy in the U.S.  And were hosted by Honorable Thomas Daughton, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia for reception at his residence.  The delegation also met with General James Auala; H.E. Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Minister of Industrialization, Trade, and SME Development; Honorable Tommy Nambahu, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism; Honorable Kornelia Shilunga, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy; Willem Goeiemann, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transportation. 
Front left to right: H.E. Calle Schlettwein, Ambassador Martin Andjaba, Vivienne Sequeira, H.E. Hage Geingob, First Lady Monica Geingob, Ambassador Thomas Daughton
Back left to right: Justin Tinsley, H.E. Obed Kandjoze, Manuela Duarte, Lwazi Sikwebu, David Johnson, Maria da Cruz, Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Robert Mukahlera, Wesley Oliveira, Freddy U.!Gaoseb, Dennis Zekveld, H.E. Tjekero Tweya, Regina Noh
OUTCOMES FROM THE TRADE MISSION:
  • The Government of Angola has facilitated border visas for future USACC trade mission to Angola.
  • USACC is working with UTIP to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the organizations for promoting more US investment in Angola.
  • United Africa Group is negotiating with an Angolan realestate company the possibility of opening a Hilton in the city of Luanda and buying smaller hotels around the country under the Protea brand.
  • Lua Jardim has registered their company in Namibia and found a local partner.　 They are currently looking for a factory to transform raw products they will import from Angola and manufacture in Namibia.　 The idea is to also do the same in the Angola.
  • Lockheed Aeronautical has submitted proposals to both the Angolan and Namibian governments by request.
  • Anglobal submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Energy and Water in Angola and will be signing a partnership with a US company shortly.
  • ACROW Bridge is currently looking for the right local partner in Angola and Namibia.
Special thanks to the Provincial Government of Luanda, the Angolan Executive Branch, Embassy of Angola in the US, Namibian Embassy in the US, US Embassy in Windhoek, US Embassy in Angola, Banco Angolano de Investimentos, ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, TGI, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Hilton and Hotel Diamante who made this mission possible.