Tag Archives: Crude oil

Angola seeks to use oil to break away from oil

While the country’s oil industry is slowing down it will finance the diversification of the economy.

After this year’s dip, the IMF forecasts the oil industry will grow up by 2.25 % per year over the next five years and big investments in areas such as farming and telecoms will reduce Angola’s dependence on oil and create jobs. These plans will critically need oil to pay for the wider development. “Growth prospects over the longer term […} should be firme up during 2015, as ongoing pre-salt prospecting should help to determine the amount of commercially viable oil reserves” the IMF explained in September.

Source, The African Report, november 2014

 

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Angola’s economic boom

Angola is experiencing an unprecedented economic boom. In May 2008, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC) confirmed Angola’s oil production at 1.9 million barrels per day. The growth in this industry has had substantial spillover effects, spurring investment in the financial services, construction, and agriculture sectors. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Angola’s GDP grew by over 20% in 2007 making it Africa’s fastest growing economy and the fourth fastest in the world. New businesses are registering everyday, fostered by an environment of peace and stability in the country and a new private investment law, that has expanded incentives for investors. Although a majority of U.S. companies remain focused on the oil and gas sector, non-oil sectors have also seen an increased presence of U.S. companies.

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Angola restores to former position

Angola is one of the fasted growing economies in the world. It has estimated reserves of 10 billion barrels of oil, and is the fourth largest producer of diamonds in the world; has million hectares of arable land; many valuable minerals and one of Africa’s largest water reserves.

This country was once the world’s fourth largest coffee producer, a major iron ore producer and an exporter off high-quality marble , food and sisal. Now, following the advent of peace, the GoA plans to restore Angola to its former position in the global economy. Inflation has been extremely stable in recent years, and continues it’s downward trend while the exchange rate has stabilized.

With record oil prices and production, the GoA has rightfully seized this opportunity to diversify the country’s economy and promote private investment. the GoA has attempted to accomplish this challenge through policy reforms, particularly, the establishment of development zones. There are early indications that these reforms have had some success in improving the business climate and increasing investor confidence in the country. To this point, Angola has received lines of credit from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, France and the E.U. GoA is offering incentive packages based on development zones.

Since signing the latest peace agreement in early 2002, Angola has experienced 6 years of sustained stability and growth that has been critical to its development and growth. In the past three years, the country has embarked on an ambitions reconstruction program. Luanda, the capital of Angola, has characteristics of a city with a great development potential. The Government of Angola (GoA) views civil construction as the country’s top priority within this new socio-economic context. Several buildings are being built in various points of the capital. Many of the provinces outside of Luanda are also developing through expanding necessary infrastructure to better connect the country.

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