Luanda
The ongoing process of facilitating the allocation of visas by Angola makes the country more attractive to investors and tourists, creating new sources of revenue at a time when oil revenues are in decline.
Thanks to the modernisation process of its Immigration Service, Angola is starting to grant multiple-entry tourist and ordinary visas, a measure “warmly welcomed by visitors entrepreneurs and investors,” according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
“Given the slow pace of business in Angola, a month is not always enough for an investor to meet with the relevant people in government and additional flexibility is certainly more attractive,” says the latest report from the EIU.
Currently, ordinary visas last only 30 days and can be renewed within the country twice, but the process is slow due to problems at the issuing bodies.
According to the EIU, the creation of a tourist visa is an important measure that can “help unlock the high tourist potential of Angola, which largely remains untapped.”
In the current difficulties, the diversification of the economy has become urgent and the Tourist Development Institute of Angola (Infotur) estimates that tourism may represent an added value to GDP of at least USD4.7 billion annually from 2020.
Another modernisation announced by the authorities to facilitate entries into the country is the acceleration of international arrivals, which are also time-consuming.
“These measures are welcome in a country that, given the rapid decline of its oil revenue, needs to do everything it can to become more attractive to investors and create new revenue streams,” added the EIU.
In a cash crunch situation, caused by the breakdown of oil prices, which led to the introduction of austerity measures in the state and in the state oil company itself, the Angolan authorities have been trying to remove constraints to business activities.
In recent months, Angola announced the facilitation of business visas for Portugal and Brazil.
Under the agreement with Brazil, business visas are valid for multiple entries over two years, allowing the holder to stay up to 90 days that cannot be extended, in each period of one year.
In the face of current difficulties, said the EIU, Angola’s priority should be its relationship with international partners such as, “China, the United States and European Union,” and countries in the region. MDT/Macauhub
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