Luanda, July 21, 2026 (Lusa) - The minister for economic coordination highlighted on Tuesday the role of the private sector in Angola's economic development, noting that it was responsible for approximately 95% of the 774,000 jobs created between January 2023 and June 2026.
José de Lima Massano was speaking at the opening of the 41st edition of the Angola International Fair – FILDA 2026, held under the theme «Produce and Innovate Locally, Succeed Globally».
According to José de Lima Massano, in the first quarter of this year, the Angolan economy recorded growth of 5.3%, a performance that has led to increased job creation, particularly for young people.
«Between January 2023 and June 2026, around 774,000 formal jobs were created, of which approximately 95% resulted from the dynamism of the private sector,» he said.
The minister emphasised that these figures demonstrate that when the right conditions are created for investment and entrepreneurship, «the benefits reach families and communities».
«The government will continue to play its part: deepening reforms and preserving macroeconomic stability, whilst remaining committed to building an environment that is increasingly favourable to investment and business growth,» he stressed.
To the private sector, José de Lima Massano conveyed the message that the government expects it to «continue to fulfil its mission: to invest, innovate, produce, export and create jobs».
«It is from this partnership, built on trust, responsibility and a long-term vision, that a stronger, more resilient economy, better prepared to compete globally, will emerge,» he stressed.
He emphasised that, in recent years, Angola has consolidated a more stable macroeconomic environment, a fundamental development for attracting investment, promoting economic diversification and bolstering the confidence of economic actors and that all these efforts are yielding positive results.
«We are witnessing the gradual strengthening of domestic production and the growing dynamism of sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, energy, transport, telecommunications, tourism and services,» he noted.
The agricultural sector, added José de Lima Massano, «is a particularly striking example of this transformation», having doubled its share of Gross Domestic Product in «just a decade», reflecting the impact of public policies aimed at increasing domestic production and strengthening food security.
«But we also know that the road ahead remains challenging,» said the minister at the opening of this international trade fair, which features 2,348 exhibitors from 22 countries, notably including China with its own pavilion, and runs until Sunday in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the province of Icolo e Bengo.
At FILDA, the Portuguese Business Association (AEP) is leading a delegation of 20 Portuguese companies this year to participate in the largest international trade event in Angola.
The 2025 edition of the fair brought together around 1,800 companies from 18 countries and generated a turnover of over $60 million (around €51.6 million).
NME/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
