ANGOLA | Minister urges US entrepreneurs to invest in transportation network

The Angolan Minister of Transportation urged American investors in Chicago to invest in rail transportation, heavy logistics and the maritime/port sector in Angola, the Angop news agency reports.
“We still have a major infrastructure deficit which lowers the ability to move in the territory and limits development possibilities, especially regarding natural resources exploitation, agriculture, industry, transportation and our economy’s consequent projection in the international market,” said last week Augusto da Silva Tomás.
He made his statement during the African leaders’ forum on transportation, held on 31 July and 1 August in the American city of Chicago.
During the event the minister presented various projects in his sector, especially the new Bom Jesus international airport located nearly 40 km from the centre of Luanda.
The new airport, due to be completed in mid-2017, will be able to receive aircraft such as the A380 or Boeing’s Dreamliner and annually handle nearly 15 million passengers, he said.
Regarding railroads, Tomás highlighted that Angola has three rail corridors totalling nearly 2,500 km linked to its three main ports, though they are limited by the fact that they are still not interconnected.
He also announced the construction within the next 10-15 years of a rail network measuring more than 10,000 km, which will become the fundamental basis for social, economic and territorial cohesion. MDT/Macauhub