Norway and Angola
Prime Minister of Norway visits Angola
Prime Minister of Norway visits Angola
At the invitation of His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, Her Excellency Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, made an official visit to the Republic of Angola on 3 December 2018.
The two Leaders held a meeting that focused on strengthening bilateral relations, as well as international issues of common interest. The meeting was characterized by a strong convergence in the issues discussed.
H.E. João Lourenço, praised the spirit of cooperation and solidarity of Norway as a model for other countries wishing to accompany Angola in its economic and social development.
H.E. Erna Solberg, welcomed the Angolan Government's efforts to provide a more attractive business environment in Angola, which would facilitate the mobilization of foreign companies and the promotion of foreign investment , for which adequate protection of investments, fight against corruption and legal assurance are essential. In this context, she thanked the fact that her country had been chosen to benefit from the exemption of entry visas in Angola.
The Parties decided to encourage the establishment of more intense contacts between the governmental and private entities of the two countries and welcomed the Angola-Norway Economic Forum, which took place on the occasion of this official visit.
Her Excellency Erna Solberg praised Angola's diplomatic efforts to maintain regional peace and stability and to promote the economic integration and development of the African continent.
The Parties also expressed their commitment to contribute to international peace and security, the promotion of free trade and environmental sustainability. In this regard, H.E. João Lourenço praised the "Sustainable Ocean Economy" initiative, launched by Norway, to increase international awareness that sustainable use of the oceans and the maintenance of good environmental status can lead to significant value creation and capacity building to meet some of the world's most vital needs in the future.
At the end of her official visit to Angola, H.E. Erna Solberg, expressed her gratitude to H.E. João Lourenço, to the Government and the Angolan People for the warm welcome and the generous hospitality accorded to her and her delegation and invited H.E. João Lourenço to make an official visit to Norway. The invitation was accepted with great pleasure and the date will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
Links to related articles from Angolan media:
https://opais.co.ao/index.php/2018/12/04/pr-convidado-a-visitar-o-reino-da-noruega/
http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/politica/2018/11/49/Angola-Noruega-
convergem-pontos-vista,45d3d562-5910-4ebd-805f-2668e59dc65f.html
http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/politica/2018/11/49/Noruega-defende-
parceria-para-desenvolvimento,ab54f18f-a899-4d4e-9e51-34b58411c9b8.html
http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/politica/2018/11/49/Angola-mostra-
abertura-atractividade-investidores-noruegueses,2baccf65-07b2-434c-9d7a-53c943c12a79.html
http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/politica/2018/11/49/Primeira-ministra-
norueguesa-termina-visita,6b2a8509-fa30-46ba-bca2-09518a90b285.html
http://www.novojornal.co.ao/politica/interior/primeira-ministra-da-noruega-em-
luanda-para-ajudar-a-salvar-os-oceanos-e-estreitar-lacos-com-angola-63813.html
The Norwegian Prime Minister in Conversation with Representatives of the Angolan Civil Society
During the Prime Ministers visit on Dec 3, the PM also met with representatives from the Angolan civil society, media personalities and the academia to discuss the role of the civil society in the development process in Angola. The starting point of the discussion was the Sustainable Development Goals but the discussion soon turned also to the increased involvement of the civil society in the public debate particularly related to both the National Development Plan (2018-21) and the Budget for 2019. The PM was interested in learning about the initiatives and challenges of the representatives present who in turn freely shared their ideas, challenges and future visions for Angola. In general, most of the representatives present praised the increased space for an honest public debate in Angola that they have experienced over the past year. The PM also shared her experiences with the checks and balances in the Norwegian context and commented in the frank spirit of the conversation that she did not always like it but appreciated the existence of strong checks and balances that characterizes the Norwegian democracy. The PM closed the debate by appreciating the frank and open discussion of the afternoon.
More than 150 People meet to Discuss Strengthening the Business Cooperation between Norway and Angola
On the afternoon of the December 3, the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg together with the Minister of State for Economic and Social Development, Manuel Nunes Junior opened an Angola-Norway Business Forum with more than a 150 dignitaries, partners and friends. The participants were Ministers, State Secretaries and key Angolan and Norwegian government and business community representatives. A panel discussion led by the researcher Manuel Alves da Rocha with participation of the Angolan Minister for Mineral Resources and Petroleum, Diamantino Pedro Azevedo, Chairman of Sonangol, Carlos Saturnino, Executive Vice President of Equinor Torgrim Reitan, Executive Vice President of Aker Solution Linda Aase, the PCA of Investment and Export Promotion Agency, Licinio Vaz Contreiras and Ulunga Martins from Angola Capital Partners kicked off a broad discussion of the need and willingness to increase trade and business cooperation between the two countries. The Prime Minister in her speech underlined that Norway is and will continue to be a consistent partner for Angola. A partnership that create and will continue to create development and opportunities both in Norway and in Angola.
Below a link to the Prime Minister’s Speech
https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/norway-as-a-consistent-partner-in-angola/id2621191/
