Angola and Zambia Record Strengthening of Relations
Angola Press, 26/02/2008
Angolan ambassador to Zambia, Pedro Neto, said Monday in Lusaka that the two countries record an “incement in their relations” in various spheres.
The diplomat was speaking to journalists, on the occasion of the meeting of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) taking place in Lusaka since Saturday.
Pedro Neto underlined that the relations between the two countries are experiencing an increment translated in the exchange of missions of political, economic, sporting, cultural, technical-scientific nature.
In the economic field, according to the diplomat, there has been a work of promotion of business opportunities in Angola and attraction of economic operators.
As to the areas of cooperation, Pedro Neto underline Zambia’s potential in agriculture, an area in which he said he believes could be boosted with the rehabilitation of the road network that connect the two countries.
"At the moment, Zambia is engaged in the construction of a branch railway in order to avoid the connection to be made through the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a sign that they are interested to start the railway to facilitate trade that can take goods into their country,” he stressed.
According to Pedro Neto, there is an interaction between the embassy and the Angolan community resident there, in order for its mobilisation for an eventual return home, or defence of their interests, should its members remain in that neighbouring country.
With a community estimated at more than 40,000 Angolans, the ambassador said a significant number of citizens were repatriated into the country last year, adding there are difficulties for their return to their places of origin in an organised way.
"We are aware that some citizens have lost their links in the country and fear their return to be marred by a failure. We have got to work with such citizens, securing them an organised living,” he further stated.
To him, the return to Zambia is but a “human problem” that happens with citizens that have an organised life in that neighbouring country, like a settled business.
Zambia is since Saturday the venue for the meeting of experts of the Southern Africa Development Community, in precedence to the Ministers Council set for February 28-29.
The Ministers Council will analyse, among other issues, the organisation budget for this year, the preparation of the International Consultative Conference on Poverty and Development and of the tripartite Summit involving the Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East Africa Community (EAC) and SADC, in April this year in Mauritius.
Angolan ambassador to Zambia, Pedro Neto, said Monday in Lusaka that the two countries record an “incement in their relations” in various spheres.
The diplomat was speaking to journalists, on the occasion of the meeting of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) taking place in Lusaka since Saturday.
Pedro Neto underlined that the relations between the two countries are experiencing an increment translated in the exchange of missions of political, economic, sporting, cultural, technical-scientific nature.
In the economic field, according to the diplomat, there has been a work of promotion of business opportunities in Angola and attraction of economic operators.
As to the areas of cooperation, Pedro Neto underline Zambia’s potential in agriculture, an area in which he said he believes could be boosted with the rehabilitation of the road network that connect the two countries.
"At the moment, Zambia is engaged in the construction of a branch railway in order to avoid the connection to be made through the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a sign that they are interested to start the railway to facilitate trade that can take goods into their country,” he stressed.
According to Pedro Neto, there is an interaction between the embassy and the Angolan community resident there, in order for its mobilisation for an eventual return home, or defence of their interests, should its members remain in that neighbouring country.
With a community estimated at more than 40,000 Angolans, the ambassador said a significant number of citizens were repatriated into the country last year, adding there are difficulties for their return to their places of origin in an organised way.
"We are aware that some citizens have lost their links in the country and fear their return to be marred by a failure. We have got to work with such citizens, securing them an organised living,” he further stated.
To him, the return to Zambia is but a “human problem” that happens with citizens that have an organised life in that neighbouring country, like a settled business.
Zambia is since Saturday the venue for the meeting of experts of the Southern Africa Development Community, in precedence to the Ministers Council set for February 28-29.
The Ministers Council will analyse, among other issues, the organisation budget for this year, the preparation of the International Consultative Conference on Poverty and Development and of the tripartite Summit involving the Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East Africa Community (EAC) and SADC, in April this year in Mauritius.
